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THE STORY OF 



A i^AVALRY REGIMENT 

V'E CAREF.R OF THE FOURTH IOWA 
VETERAN VOLUNTEERS 



^'OM KANSAS TO GEORGIA 
1861-186^ 



BY 

vm. FORSE SCOTT 
ii 

LATE ADJUTANT 



•I s: r 



V 



p. PUTNAM^ SONS 

VV- 'i. LONDON 

ID STREET 24 BEDFORD STREET, STRAND 

1893 



(^ 



£■501 






Copyright, 1892 

BY 

WM. FORSE SCOTT 



Electrotyped, Printed, and Bound by 

TEbe Tknichcrbocfjcc press, IRew B?ocft 
G. P. Putnam's Sons 



ERRATA. 



Page xviii, line Ti2^for foot-soldiers r<?a(/ foot-soldier, 
xix, " 6, " foemen's /'^difl'foeman's. 
i86, " 8, " Sheridan read Sherman. 
321, " 29, " those r^^^ these. 
410, in the note, after March read 1865. 
459, line 16, for and read or. 
509, " 6, *' is read are. 

1 

071 the Route Map, opposite page ^48, the flags at Gettysburg, 
Chattanooga, Chickamauga, Franklin, Nashville, Shiloh, Pea 
Ridge, Cross Hollows, and Prairie Grove should be excepted from 
the statement made in the explanatory note respecting flags unthout 
date. They were left in the drawing by inadvertence. 



MOND, AND Jackson— Capture of Jackson and Uestruc- 
TioN OF Property — Johnston and Pemberton Separated 
— Battle of Champion's Hill and Defeat of Pemberton 
— Battle of the Big Black — Crossing the Big Black 
—The Regiment Moves on Haines' Bluff and Occupies 
the Fortress — Pemberton Driven into Vicksburg — 
Communication with the Gunboats and Completion of 
Investment— Two Grand Assaults upon the Fortifica- 
tions Unsuccessful — The Regiment Scouting and 



1 



I 

/ 



/ 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER PAGB 

Preface xi 

Introduction xv 

I. — August, i86i, to February, 1862 : Organization and Equip- 
ment — In Rendezvous at Camp Harlan . . . . i 
II. — March to July, 1862 : In the Field — Missouri and Arkan- 
sas — From Iowa to St. Louis, Springfield, Pea Ridge, 

AND BaTESVILLE, WITH ADVANCE UPON LITTLE ROCK AND 

Retreat to the Mississippi — The First Fighting of 
THE Regiment — Actions at Nitre Cave and Talbot's 
Ferry — Death of Heacock — Actions at Little Red 
River, Mt. Olive, White River, and Gist's Plantation 
— Battle of the River Cache — Arrival at Helena . 30 

III, — July, 1862, to April, 1863 : Service at Helena — Scouting 
and Foraging — Many Skirmishes — Improvement in Arms 
— Woodruff Guns — Actions at Jones' Lane, Marianna, 
Lagrange, Big Creek, and Wittsburg — Expedition 
against the Post of Arkansas — Demonstration upon 
Grenada, Miss., in Aid of Grant — Assigned to Thir- 
teenth Army Corps — Ordered to Join Grant for the 
Campaign against Vicksburg 47 

IV. — May to July 1863: Vicksburg — Former Campaigns — 
Operations by Canals — Running the Batteries — March- 
ing Through Louisiana — Crossing the Mississippi — The 
Regiment Assigned to Sherman's Fifteenth Corps — 
Battles at Port Gibson, Fourteen-Mile Creek, Ray- 
mond, AND Jackson — Capture of Jackson and Destruc- 
tion OF Property — Johnston and Pemberton Separated 
— Battle of Champion's Hill and Defeat of Pemberton 
— Battle of the Big Black — Crossing the Big Black 
— The Regiment Moves on Haines' Bluff and Occupies 
the Fortress — Pemberton Driven into Vicksburg — 
Communication with the Gunboats and Completion of 
Investment — Two Grand Assaults upon the Fortifica- 
tions Unsuccessful — The Regiment Scouting and 



vi CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER PAGE 

IV. — May to July, 1863 : — continued 

Reconnoitring against the Advance of Johnston — 
Great Hardships of the Service — Engagements at 
Mechanicsburg — Remarkable Battle at Bear Creek 
AND Heavy Loss of the Regiment — Extended Opera- 
tions in Defense against Johnston — Surrender of 

ViCKSBURG 65 

v. — July, 1863, to January, 1864: The Beginning of the End 
OF THE War — ViCKSBURG and Gettysburg — Change in 
the Command of the Regiment — Sherman's Campaign 
against Johnston — Second Capture of Jackson — Two 
Cavalry Movements upon Canton — Two Engagements 
near Canton — The Town Evacuated by the Enemy — 
The Regiment Destroys Bridges on the Pearl and Big 
Black — Return to Vicksburg and Camp on Flowers' 
Plantation — Great Raid from Vicksburg to Memphis 
— Occupation of Grenada — Much Fighting for the 
Road — Large Captures and Destruction of Railway 
Property — Successful End of the Campaign and Com- 
mendation OF Grant — The Hanging of John Buck — 
Demonstration upon Canton by the Cavalry in Aid of 
Sherman — Daring March through the Enemy's Country 
— A Challenge to Combat — Another Demonstration 
upon Canton by McPherson — Engagements of the 
Cavalry at Brownsville, Bogue Chito, and Livingston 
— Hard Fighting of the Rear-Guard — Return to Vicks- 
burg — Foraging and Recruiting — Expedition against 
Wirt Adams at Natchez — Vexatious Failure of the 

Expedition — Veteran Re-enlisting iii 

VI. — February, 1864 : Sherman's Campaign of Meridian — 
Brilliant Operations of the Cavalry — Third Capture 
of Jackson — Engagements at Big Black Bridge, Baker's 
Creek, Raymond Road, Clinton, Jackson, Morton, Tun- 
nel Hill, Decatur, Tallahatta, and Meridian — Capture 
OF Meridian — Great Destruction of Property — Efforts 
to Communicate with Gen. Sooy Smith — His Defeat 
BY Forrest — Sherman's Return to Vicksburg — Sherman 
Furloughs the Veterans — The Regiment Given a Recep- 
tion AT St. Louis 184 

VII. — May to December, 1864 : Memphis — Veterans Return 
from Furlough Remounted — Camps Moved from Vicks- 
burg TO Memphis — Recruits Fill the Regiment — For- 
rest's Fort Pillow Campaign — Sherman's Efforts to 
Destroy Forrest — Sturgis' Two Campaigns against 
Forrest — Disastrous Battle of Brice's Cross-Roads — 
Great Service of the Iowa Cavalry as Rear-Guard — 



CONTENTS. vii 



CHAPTER PAGB 

VII. — May to December, 1864 : — continued 

Sturgis' Defense — Smith's Two Campaigns against 
Forrest — Battles about Pontotoc and Tupelo — Lee and 
Forrest Defeated with Great Loss — Forrest's Cavalry 
Defeated at the Tallahatchie and Hurricane Creek — 
Forrest Takes Memphis ! — Co. C, Fourth Iowa, in Action 

at Memphis 223 

VIII. — September to December, 1864 : Campaign against Sterling 
Price — Condition of Missouri and Plans of the Enemy 
— The Cavalry March through Arkansas and Missouri 
IN Pursuit — Price Overtaken near Kansas City — 
Splendid Battles of Cavalry in the Prairie — Big 
Blue River, Big Blue Prairie, Trading-Post, Marais 
DES Cygnes, Marmiton, and Newtonia — Price Routed 
AND Driven through Indian Territory — Voting for 
"Lincoln and the Vigorous Prosecution of the War" 

— Return March to St. Louis 302 

IX. — December, 1864, to January, 1865 : Between Campaigns — 
The "Bread Riot" — Expiration of Original Term of 
Enlistment and Discharge of Non-Veterans — Huff's 
Disaster at White's Station — Grierson's Raid from 
Memphis to Vicksburg — The Regiment Assigned to 
Wilson's Cavalry Corps and Sent to Louisville — Severe 
Winter in Camp — Preparing for the Last Campaign 

— Soldier Life and Development 353 

X. — February to May, 1865 : The Last Campaign — Condition 
of the' Confederacy and its Armies — Its Last Line — 
Wilson's Cavalry Corps, its Organization and Officers 
— Forces of the Enemy and their Disposal to Meet 
THE Campaign — Grant's and Thomas' Orders for the 
Campaign — Three Divisions of the Corps Assigned to 
THE Campaign and Cantoned at Eastport, Miss. — 
Training and Discipline in the Corps — March upon 
Selma — Crossing Swollen Rivers — Fighting at Monte- 

VALLO AND SiX-MlLE CREEK — BATTLE OF EbENEZER ChURCH 

— Forrest Defeated and Wounded — Selma, its Import- 
ance AND ITS Fortifications— The Cavalry Dismount 
and Carry the Works by Storm — Mounted Charge upon 
Forrest's Broken Lines — Destruction of Property at 
Selma ........... 410 

XI.— April, 1865 : Where Next ?— " On to Richmond ! "—Cross- 
ing THE Alabama — Fall of Montgomery — La Grange's 
Fighting with Buford and Clanton — March upon 
Columbus — La Grange's Brilliant Assault and Capture 
OF Fort Tyler — Upton's Division before the Works 
AT Columbus — Alexander's Charge — Night Assault by 



viii CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER PAGE 

XI. — April, 1865 : — continued 

WiNSLow's Brigade a Splendid Success — The Last 
Battle of the War — Irreparable Losses of the Enemy, 464 
XII. — April, 1865 : The Column Moves on against Macon and 
Augusta — Fighting for the Road to Macon — News of 
Fall of Richmond and Surrender of Lee and John- 
ston — Macon Taken, with Howell Cobb — Ordered to 
Cease Hostilities 504 

XIII. — April to August, 1865 : Camp at Macon — Death of Lin- 
coln — Capture of Davis and Reagan — Arrest of 
Stephens, Toombs, Mallory, Hill, and Johnson — Parol- 
ing THE Rebel Soldiers — Occupation of the Country 
— The Regiment Sent to Atlanta — Anxious to be Dis- 
charged — Rebuilding the Railroads — Condition of the 
People — Care of Them by the Army — Muster-out ! — 
Home ! 521 

Appendix : Engagements and Casualties 549 

General Statistics 576 

Index 577 



MAPS AND BATTLE PLANS. 



ViCKSBURG, Helena, and Memphis : Field Map of Operations of 
THE Fourth Iowa Cavalry in that Region during the 
Civil War ........ facing page 64 

Battle of Bear Creek, or Jones' Plantation, June 22, 1863 

facing page I02 

Demonstration in Favor of Sherman, Sept. 29 and 30, 1863 

facing page 1 60 

Battle of Brice's Cross-roads, or Guntown (called by the Con- 
federates '* Tishomingo Creek "), June 10, 1864, facing page 236 

Battle of the Big Blue, Oct. 23, 1864 . . , facing page 322 

Battle of the Marais des Cygnes (or "Osage," or "Mine 

Creek "), Oct. 25, 1864 ..... facing page 332 

Capture of Selma, April 2, 1865 .... facing page 446 

Capture of Columbus, night of April 16, 1865 . facing page 484 

Route Map of the Campaigns of the Fourth Iowa Cavalry 

IN THE Civil War. 1861-1865 .... facing page 548 



IX 



PREFACE. 



Some years ago, at the request of the survivors of 
my regiment, I undertook to prepare a sketch of its 
operations, to be read at a reunion. The character of 
the post I had held and my possession of a quantity of 
contemporaneous papers naturally suggested to them 
that I should do it. The result was a sketch which I 
thought too long for the purpose intended and too 
short to be of permanent value. So, finding my com- 
rades much interested in the work, I set about extend- 
ing it into, a fuller account, still, however, with only 
slight mention of campaigns or co-operating commands 
(the usual plan of the regimental histories I have seen), 
intending to make a book for the gratification of the 
veterans alone. 

But this plan proved unsatisfactory to me, because 
it could not present an adequate idea of the value of the 
work of the corps nor suggest an intelligent conception 
of the purposes of that work. Though survivors of 
the war may be able to fill out a narrow history from 
memory, or may imagine they can, their children and 
friends, who now make a greater number of the readers 
of such books, lack both of the old soldier's advantages 
of knowledge and imagination. These considerations, 
together with the hope, to which I confess, that the 



XI 



xii PREFACE. 



book might be of some value as a contribution to the 
history of the war, led me to adopt the plan upon 
which finally I worked, 

I have intended to give, with the operations of the 
regiment itself, a general and brief account of each 
campaign and action in which it was engaged and of 
the movements of the associated corps, such as would 
enable the reader to see, not merely what the regiment 
did, but how and why it was done. Though the result 
may be a history more or less broken, so far as the regi- 
ment alone is concerned, and at the same time only a 
meagre account of the campaigns as campaigns, yet I 
must take the risk of these objections. I think, upon 
the whole, that the plan I have chosen is better than 
any other. And I may add, lest it should seem pre- 
sumptuous, my undertaking to write history, that very 
largely the book is really a record of what I saw and 
knew, since I was in the regiment from the first enlist- 
ments to the last muster-out, and was a part of nearly 
all its service. 

It will not surprise me if my readers find minor 
errors. The work has all been done under serious 
difficulties as to time. Such irregular and uncertain 
hours as could be taken of evenings and holidays, in 
the midst of the engagements of an active professional 
life, are nearly all it has received. Though this does 
not excuse faults, I hope it may be received as an 
apology for them. 

Yet I have tried carefully to confirm or correct every 
material statement by contemporaneous papers, official 
and private, by the printed official reports and other 
books, and by a large correspondence with the surviv- 
ing actors. Officers and soldiers of all ranks, not only 



PREFACE. xiii 

of my own command, but of many others, have aided 
me gladly and with great industry, so many, indeed, that 
I could not name them here in acknowledgment without 
making a list that would seem too long. But I must 
not omit to mention two gentlemen who, though having 
no part in any of the events of the book, have given 
me specially valuable help : Col. Ephraim C. Dawes, 
of Cincinnati, whose very remarkable library of the 
war I have freely used, and Major Joseph W. Kirkley, 
of the War Records Office, whose researches for me 
have supplied many gaps and settled many questions. 
For the maps and battle-plans I am responsible 
alone, except the very excellent one of Selma, which 
was originally made by Captain Noyes, now Lieutenant- 
Colonel in the Fifth United States Cavalry. That one 
was verified, and those of Bear Creek, Brice's Cross- 
roads, Big Blue, Marais des Cygnes, and Columbus, 
were sketched on the ground since the war, 

Wm. Fokse Scott. 

New York, November, 189S. 



INTRODUCTION. 



" The Story of a Cavalry Regiment " is the record 
of the Fourth Iowa in the war of the Rebellion, 

In the beginniug of that conflict the commanders of 
Union armies appeared neither to value nor to under- 
stand this arm of the service. From Alexander to 
Frederick, as all students of history know, the great 
soldiers won their greatest victories with cavalry. But 
the increasing range of modern musketry, and later the 
invention of breech-loading and magazine guns, by 
making continuous long-range fire possible, destroyed 
the power of horsemen to break squares and masses of 
trained infantry. By this change the cavalry service 
suffered unduly in the estimation of incompetent gen- 
erals, who, unfortunately, were numerous in the early 
period of the war. 

The people of the North, ignorant of military opera- 
tions, regarded with superstitious and undiscriminating 
deference all men of military education or experience ; 
and, accordingly, such men were often overweighted 
with the responsibilities of high command. There was 
even a time when honest patriots spoke of the able 
organizer and popular drill-master of the Army of the 
Potomac as a probable dictator ; and bitter lessons were 
required to teach the President and the people that 



xvi INTRODUCTION. 



military education cannot make a soldier. Inapt cadets, 
who remained incapable of command tliough graduated 
at West Point, were a hindrance rather than a help, by 
reason of the undue reliance placed upon their merely 
technical training ; and yet officers of this class were 
outnumbered by those appointed from the politicians, 
who, thougli often uniting natural unfitness to a 
total lack of military training, were yet rewarded or 
conciliated with high commissions to command the 
volunteers. 

In neither of these classes were there any but the 
dimmest ideas of the use of cavalry. They employed 
it actively, it is true, but destructively and without 
any effective results, making it very costly to the gov- 
ernment and very demoralizing to the men. New regi- 
ments, undrilled, undisciplined, and wretchedly armed, 
were broken up by details for escorts, to gratify the 
vanity of generals, for picketing permanent posts and 
infantry camps, and for courier and other services for 
whicb there should have been specially enlisted corps. 
Soldiers who marched on foot carrying their arms and 
accoutrements, seemed to feel their burdens lightened 
by gibes at the cavalry, whose horses covered them 
with dust or splashed them witb mud, as they hurried 
their riders on worse than useless errands past the foot- 
sore columns. 

Engineer officers, who, by reason of their standing 
at West Point, took high rank in the volunteer army, 
were predisposed to win victories with intrenching 
tools ; and this, with the hope of a speedy termination 
of the war, the long time supposed to be required for 
drilling cavalry, and the lack of competent leaders, 
kept the cavalry for years, with a few brilliant excep- 



INTRODUCTION. xvii 

tions, in wasteful and degrading service, incessant but 
inglorious marches and petty conflicts. 

A cavalry officer distinguished in the East, said, in 
1865 : "With eighty thousand cavalry on the rolls in 
the winter of 1862, the Army of the Potomac was kept 
so deplorably deficient in that arm as to be unable to 
ascertain what the enemy were doing at Faii-fax and 
Manassas, or to raise the blockade of the Potomac ; and 
the rebels had finally moved away from those places in 
the spring before our army had started in ]3ursuit. Does 
any one now assert that those obstacles could not 
have been overcome by twenty thousand cavalry ? " 
Grant himself, after two years' experience in the 
field, and when there were a hundred regiments of 
cavalry west of the Alleghanies, went into the cam- 
paign of Vicksburg and half way through the siege 
with only one regiment (the Fourth Iowa) and a few 
small detachments, the result being the waste of half 
the men and most of the horses from mere excess of 
exertion. Even as late as the beginning of the last 
campaign of the war, a certain famous old division and 
corps general quarrelled with Wilson, because that able 
cavalryman refused to break up one of his brigades to 
supply the usual escorts to brigadiers and outposts for 
infantry camps. 

The true uses of cavalry were not understood, its 
capabilities were not seen. It was only after " escorts " 
and " body-guards " had passed out of view with the 
" show generals," after length of service had formed in 
each command a corps of veterans to assimilate re- 
cruits, after contact with the enemy had brought out 
leaders, and after the few real generals had been taught 
by experience to mass this arm and let it fight, that the 



xviii INTRODUCTION. 



Federal cavalry won its place and made its record. 
Then it compelled recognition from our best command- 
ers, as the most difficult, the most delicate, the most 
flexible, the most effective arm of the service. General 
Sherman well said that it required greater ability to 
command ten thousand cavalry than fifty thousand 
infantry. 

In the last year of the war, Sheridan in the Valley 
and Wilson in Tennessee and Alabama showed how 
simple and easy it is to make of cavalrymen soldiers as 
effective as any, and far more effective for some pur- 
poses than infantry could be. Yet there was no magic 
in the methods of these brilliant leaders, nothing but 
the conviction that if you want volunteers to be sol- 
diers you must treat them as soldiers: hold them to- 
gether, train them, fight them together, and lead them 
— that is all. 

So, with opportunity and proven leaders, the cavalry 
quickly proved itself. Stretched across the breadth 
of the continent, its imperfect organizations quickened 
with new life. Order dwelt in its camps. Confidence 
marched with its columns. The resistless spirit of 
Freedom moved with its charging squadrons. It did 
its part, but it has not yet found its historian. Its 
deeds have not yet been written. They are not easy 
to believe. It fought with equals. Confederate sol- 
diers have had no superiors since wars began. Yet the 
achievements of the Federal cavalry during the last 
two years of the war surpass the romances of chivalry, 
and make them read like tales told for the nursery. 

The time for jeers had passed, the time for cheers 
had come. The tired foot-soldiers, " marching towards 
great events," called out at night, " Here comes the 



INTRODUCTION. xix 

cavalry ! " and slept upon the ground, curtained from 
danger by its sleepless sentinels. At dawn he heard its 
advanced guns challenge the enemy to combat. In 
the stress and strain of battle he saw electric tremors 
in the opposing ranks, then heard the muffled thunder 
of the horsemen's charge. He knew the foemen's 
flank was broken and his front must yield. There 
were cheers now, and not jeers, for the cavalry. 

The story of this regiment, were it not proven, would 
appear incredible. Much reading of the deeds of the 
different arms in other wars finds nothing to surpass 
the endurance in marching, or the dash and courage in 
fighting, displayed by the Fourth Iowa Cavalry after 
the beginning of the Vicksburg campaign under Grant. 
The raid from Vicksburg to Memphis, the magnificent 
covering of the retreat of Sturgis from Guntown, the 
bold and marvellously successful initiative taken 
against odds at the battles of the Big Blue and the 
Osage, the pursuit of Price, and the storming of Colum- 
bus illustrate my meaning. 

A hundred men of the Fourth Iowa, poorly armed 
and caught at a disadvantage when engaged in felling 
trees,^ abruptly cut off from any aid and attacked by 
two regiments, obstinately resisted three charges and 
held their ground till surrounded, when they fought 
their way out with a loss of half their number. A 
thousand men of its brigade led Sherman's twenty thou- 
sand infantry and artillery from Vicksburg to Meridian,^ 
fighting for the road every day, often all the day, re- 
sisted at different times by five different brigades, but 
always keeping the road clear, so that the infantry and 
guns behind them made the whole distance, one hun- 

' Page 103. 2 Pages 188-206. 



XX INTRODUCTION. 



dred and eighty miles, in twelve days. On the open 
prairie of the Kansas border/ this regiment threw 
itself against Price's line of many thousands, and by 
sheer audacity broke it, causing the rout of the two 
divisions by one brigade. At Columbus on the Chat- 
tahoochee,^ this regiment, with the Third Iowa, here 
numbering together hardly seven hundred, dismounted 
in the night and assaulted strong fortifications, de- 
fended by several thousand men with many guns (the 
plan and extent of the works being unknown even to 
their generals), and carried them by storm. Surely 
such men had in them the metal of soldiers. 

Standing alone, the record of this regiment deter- 
mines the superior effectiveness of cavalry over other 
arms on a wide field of action, where rapidity of move- 
ment and audacious energy achieve success. Had every 
Federal regiment done as much as this one did, the num- 
ber of prisoners taken in arms would have exceeded 
the whole white population of the Confederacy, and the 
property taken and destroyed would have far exceeded 
in value all the property of every kind within its limits. 
/ The rank and file of the reiriment were chosen men. 
None others were retained. Pioneers and the sons of 
pioneers rode in its columns. Their strenuous lives 
on the frontier bred no false qualities of character, left 
few flaws in manhood. Courasie with them was not a 
merit, but a consequence of character. Unconscious 
patriotism was a part of their existence. Their women 
would have scorned one who turned back from battle. 
They made history as they tilled their fields. They 
took back to the tasks of peace the silent heroism 

which had won victories in war. 

/ 

1 Page 334. « Page 493. 



INTRODUCTION. xxi 

At their best they were commanded by a young 
volunteer who bore a name long honored in New Eng- 
land. Descent from Puritans carried conscience into 
his work. No detail of service escaped his attention, 
but his faculties rose with the occasion, and in action 
no emergency found him unprepared. He took blows 
stoically, but paid them back with compound interest 
when his time came to strike. His men got their dues, 
but they were always for duty. 

He was gentle by nature, but filled with the aggres- 
siveness of the cause, and while he earned the love of 
his subordinates, he compelled the confidence of his 
superiors. His keen intelligence moulded the purpose 
of his men ; his will inspired them and made them 
think themselves invincible. Though his military 
education was gained in the field, and he was " only a 
volunteer," the qualities and the services of Winslow 
were such as upon larger fields made Sheridan and 
Wilson the first cavalry leaders of the Civil War. 

His men showed no ambition but to do their duty. 
The writer of their story has shown no ambition but 
to tell plainly how they did it. He was himself a 
part of what he writes about. The experiences of his 
comrades were common to other regiments, but under 
his hand their achievements have been taken by the 
imperishable types and made their own forever. In 
intervals of time borrowed from clients and taken from 
needed rest, their " Boy Adjutant " has told us the 
story of their toils and dangers and sufferings through 
four years of war. 

There should be many readers for this book. It is 
a picture of the Civil War in miniature. To read it 
will make " the generation which has grown up since 



xxii INTRODUCTION. 

the war " think better of its fathers. Its praise is niod- 
erate and its censure Just. A child can understand it, 
and a wise man will not lay it down unread. It 
will bring crowding memories and pleasures to all 
survivors of the volunteers. It will call up for them 
hunger and thirst, burning heat and biting cold, storm 
and flood, fevers and aching wounds — remembered, 
but unfelt, — all in the past ; and in the present, growing 
joy, ever growing blessings, gained by their sacrifice. 
They see perpetual union of the States, cemented by 
the blood of those who fell on either side ; no strife 
now but the peaceful strife of commerce and the riv- 
alry of civic virtues. They see common efforts, hopes, 
and ambitions, born of mutual respect learned in the 
field, building prosperity for all the people. 

These are worthy teachings. Historians find the 
best materials in such books. They are reservoirs of 
fact kept pure from prejudice. The truth is in them. 
Like deep springs among the hills, which yield refresh- 
ment while they mirror their surroundings, such books 
show forth the form and spirit of heroic days, and 
nourish patriotism while they give a soul to history. 

O. H. La Grange. 

New York, ith March, 1892. 




BADGE OF WILSON'S CORPS. 



OFFICIALLY, THE CAVALRY CORPS OF THE MILITARY DIVISION 
OF THE MISSISSIPPI." 



There 's nothing finer in the world, — 

Oh, nothing half so fast, 
When we hussars rush down the field 

And into the fight at last ! 
Our carbines crash, the ringing skies 

With flashing flames are rosy red, 
Tlie -wild blood flies in our dancing eyes, — 

Oh, then loe 're roaring glad ! 

And if in death among us fall 

Our comrades ready and true. 
Of that ive ''ve nothing more to say, 

But that we'' re ready too. 
Loiv on the ground the body lies, 

The shattered shell to earth is given ; 
But the free soul flies thro' the ringing skies 

Up to the tent of heaven. 

From an old German Hussar Song. 




THE STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT 



CHAPTER I. 



ORGANIZATION AND EQUIPMENT. 

When the sound of the guns at Fort Sumter reached 
Iowa that State was instantly in arms. In one day 
twenty times as many men as were called from it by 
President Lincoln's first proclamation offered themselves 
to Governor Kirkwood. These first volunteers lived 
mostly in the eastern counties. It was a new State. 
Over nearly the whole of it travelling was still done by 
stage-coach. The only railways were the beginnings of 
three single-track lines, running from Davenport, Bur- 
lington, and Keokuk, then operating only sixty or sev- 
enty miles each. Telegraph lines were few in number 
and little more extended than the railways. The west- 
ern half of the State was but thinly inhabited. Indeed, 
large quantities of public lands were still awaiting " pre- 
emption." Many county-seats, which are now thriving 
towns or cities, then contained hardly more than a court- 
house and a school-house, planted in the open prairie, 
the high wild grass waving up to their doors. 



STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



Into these newer parts of the State the news of the 
war came slowly. The offers of companies of volun- 
teers to the Governor were sometimes late in reaching 
him; and the accepted companies, moving by stages 
and on horses to the places appointed for rendezvous, 
sometimes found, on arriving, that the regiments to 
which they had been assigned were already filled. 
This was the experience of two companies, one from 
Fremont County, the southwesternmost county, and 
one from Delaware County, in the northeastern 
part of the State. They were raised and offered for 
the Second Iowa Cavalry, then being organized in 
Camp McClellan, near Davenport. They were ac- 
cepted for that regiment and ordered to the camp, 
but when they reached it, early in September, 1861, 
the Second Regiment was full and on its way to the 
field. It is not easy to realize now the fact that one of 
these companies (the one from Fremont County) spent, 
necessarily, ten days on its way from home to Daven- 
port, the only means of transportation as far as Ma- 
rengo (260 miles) being farm wagons and saddle 
horses. The Third Cavalry was then going into camp 
at Keokuk, but the full number of companies had 
already been accepted for it. 

The two companies were greatly disappointed, and 
when it was reported that no more cavalry would be ac- 
cepted from Iowa, to. their disappointment was added 
discontent.^ They remained in Camp McClellan day 
after day, week after week, in suspense, the officers 
constantly in communication with the Governor and 

' The War Department was of opinion that three cavalry regiments were more 
than enough from Iowa, and insisted that any further enlistments should be in 
the infantry. But the State furnished nine regiments of cavalry as well as some 
companies in regiments of other States. 



ORGANIZATION AND EQUIPMENT. 3 

the Adjutant-General, hoping that another regiment of 
cavahy would be ordered into camp, and the men 
zealously discussing every rumor and suggestion, no 
matter how slight or absurd, which related to their 
becoming a part of the army. Several regiments of 
infantry were then being formed in Camp McClellan, 
and efforts were made to induce the men of the two 
companies to join them, but there was no success ; they 
had set out to be cavalrymen. The discontent became 
so serious at last that Governor Kirkwood visited the 
camp and made a speech to the men. He promised to 
find place for them. At the same time James Harlan, 
then United States Senator from Iowa and afterward 
Secretary of the Interior in Lincoln's Cabinet, urged 
the War Department to authorize the raising of an- 
other regiment of cavalry in Iowa. Mr. Harlan pressed 
upon the Secretary of War his opinion that the best 
cavalry could be made of Western men, who were 
accustomed to riding and the care of horses. In Iowa 
at that time, as in other Northern states, the people 
were begging the government to accept more troops. 
Special authority was finally given by the War De- 
partment, in a letter from Secretary Stanton to Gov- 
ernor Kirkwood, dated October 12, 1861, authorizing 
the raising of a fourth regiment of cavalry in Iowa, to 
be rendezvoused at Mount Pleasant. At the personal 
request of Mr. Harlan there was inserted in this order 
the unusual provision, that the horses of the regiment 
should be purchased at the place of rendezvous, under 
the immediate direction of the colonel. Governor Kirk- 
wood ordered the two companies to proceed to Mount 
Pleasant and go into camp as the nucleus of the Fourth 
Cavalry; and, in consideration of their age and persist- 



4 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

ence, they were to have the honor of being " Company 
A" and "Company B," and of holding, respectively, 
the " right " and the " left " of the regimental line. 
The Fremont County company was " A " and the 
Delaware County company " B." 

They moved at once from Davenport to Burlington, 
by the steamboat Kate Cassell, and thence by rail 
to Mount Pleasant, where they arrived before day- 
break October 17, 1861. They went immediately to 
" Camp Harlan," so named in honor of the senator. 
The camp was then only an open meadow, lying west 
of the town, where there were piles of lumber pro- 
vided for building barracks. The frames for two com- 
pany buildings were then being raised by carj)enters. 
The weather was fine, the question of getting into the 
aimy appeared to be definitely settled, and the men 
went to work on the barracks with great spirit. 

Indeed, there was nothing else for them to do. 
They had no arms, no equipments, no clothing, except 
what they had themselves provided, not even a suffi- 
cient supply of blankets. But the people of Mount 
Pleasant were burning with zeal in the cause, and they 
permitted no one to be uncomfortable. It was exceed- 
ingly difficult then, especially in the Western states, 
to get military equipments, and it was hardly expected 
that the regiment would be equipped and instructed 
sufficiently for service in the field before the coming 
on of cold weather. The nights were already cold. 
The barracks, therefore, although only close sheds of 
rough pine boards, were built as snugly as time per- 
mitted. Those for the companies were each about 
eighty feet long and twenty wide, and high enough for 
three tiers of double berths, or " bunks," between the 



ORGANIZATION AND EQUIPMENT. 5 

floor and the eaves. There was a door in each end, a 
window in the middle of each side, and a floor of 
rough boards. A small shed against the rear end was 
the kitchen. Twelve of these buildings, one for each 
company, stood side by side, facing south, with inter- 
vals of about twenty feet, except that between the 
sixth and seventh the space was wide enough to admit 
a building of similar plan, but of smaller size, for the 
use of the musicians — the " Regimental Band." In the 
rear of the barracks were the stables, very long, low 
sheds, closed on one side, one for each company and 
one for the field-and-staff. 

In front of these barracks, on the other side of a 
parade ground about fifty yards wide, were smaller 
barracks of similar construction, the quarters of the 
ofiicers and non-commissioned ofiicers of the field-and- 
staff. 

Excellent water was supplied from Swan's Spring, 
a famous spring near the Swan farm-house, just beyond 
\ki^ northwest corner of the camp-ground. It was 
carried by the volunteers, in big iron camp-kettles, 
hooked one at each end of a wooden yoke fitted to 
the shoulders. In 1890 the site of Camp Harlan is 
still an open field, and that fine spring still supplies a 
Swan family living in the same old farm-house. 

Other companies closely followed A and B into the 
camp, each company being immediately employed in 
building and fitting up its own barracks. As the 
numbers increased and the barracks approached com- 
pletion, the camp became a very busy place, and the 
work of filling and organizing the regiment went on 
with increasing zeal 

Company A was formed at Sidney, in Fremont 



STOI^Y OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



County, late in July, 1861, of men of Fremont, Page, 
and Mills counties. It was sworn into the State ser- 
vice, under tlie Governor's acceptance, for the Second 
Cavaliy, August 10th, and went into camp at Sidney, 
August 26th. The Page County men, enlisted by J. 
Marshall Rust and Samuel P. Kelly, being unable to 
attend the meeting at Sidney on the 10th of August, 
were sworn in at Hawleyville August 9th, so that they 
could be reported at Sidney as enlisted, thus becoming 
the first men enlisted of the Fourth Iowa Cavalry. 
The company moved from the Sidney camp September 
5th, under orders to proceed to Camp McClellan, at 
Davenport. Its further movement to Camp Harlan 
has already been mentioned. Its first officers were 
Captain Benjamin Rector, First-Lieutenant John Gruy- 
lee, Second-Lieutenant J. Marshall Rust. 

Company B was formed at Delhi, in Delaware 
County, the last of August, and arrived at Davenport 
about the 5th of September. From there it went 
to Mount Pleasant with Company A, as already told» 
Its first officers were Captain John H. Peters, First- 
Lieutenant George B. Parsons, Second-Lieutenant 
Alonzo Clark. 

Company C was raised at Mount Pleasant, and was 
composed almost entirely of men living in that county 
— Henry. Its first officers were Captain Orrin Miller, 
First-Lieutenant Henry E. Winslow, Second-Lieuten- 
ant James Patterson. It went into Camp Harlan 
October 25th. 

Company D was also of Henry County. It was 
organized as a militia company, September 7, 1861. 
Its first officers in the militia and in the Fourth Cavalry 
were Captain Cornelius F. Spearman, First-Lieutenant 



ORGANIZATION AND EQUIPMENT. 7 

Erasmus Coiner, Second-Lieutenant John Tucker. It 
marclied into Camp Harlan October 21st. 

Company E was formed at Grinnell, in Poweshiek 
County, though individuals and squads of its men 
Joined from neighboring counties. It grew out of a 
company which gathered at Grinnell to join a regiment 
of "Mounted Kifles." There was an effort made to 
organize such a regiment at Iowa City ; but authority 
from the War Department could not be obtained, and 
the undertaking failed. The first officers of E were 
CajDtain Alonzo B. Parkell, First-Lieutenant Orson N. 
Perkins, Second-Lieutenant Edward W. Dee. It was 
quartered in the camp in October. 

Company F was begun at Ottumwa, in Wapello 
County, but many of its men came from Mahaska and 
Henry counties. It was largely recruited in Septem- 
ber, but was not filled till November, at Camp Harlan. 
Its first officers were Captain Edward F. Winslow, 
First-Lieutenant Thomas J. Zollars, Second-Lieutenant 
William A. Heacock. 

Company G obtained most of its members from Lee 
County, but some joined from other counties after the 
main body reached Camp Harlan, which was in No- 
vember. The first officers were Captain Thomas C. 
Tullis, First-Lieutenant James Brown, Second-Lieuten- 
ant Simon Hooper. 

Company H was mostly from Mitchell and Chick- 
asaw counties, though Floyd, Johnson, Bremer, How- 
ard and Iowa counties were represented in it. The 
men reached Camp Harlan about the 1st of November, 
and the company was there organized. Its first officers 
were Captain Dewitt C. Crawford, First-Lieutenant 
Samuel S. Troy, Second-Lieutenant Edwin A. Haskell. 



8 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



Company I was formed at Winterset, in Madison 
County, its men coming from that county and from 
Adair and Guthrie. Its first officers were Captain 
William Pursel, First-Lieutenant Jesse R. Lambert, 
Second-Lieutenant John Overmyer. The larger part 
of it was in Camp Harlan early in November. 

Company K was another Henry County company. 
It was in the camp before the end of October, choosing 
for officers, Captain James T. Drummond, First-Lieuten- 
ant Jacob Hart, Second-Lieutenant Joshua Gardner. 

Company L had a career before it came to Mount 
Pleasant. A company of men was collected in Des 
Moines and other counties, who, in October, went into 
quarters at Burlington, as " Pleyel's Lancers." This 
was a proposed regiment of horsemen who were to 
carry lances instead of sabres. A German officer 
named Pleyel had undertaken to raise the regiment, 
but, when several companies were in rendezvous at 
Burlington, the scheme was abandoned, either because 
it lacked official sanction or because there were not 
enough men who wanted to carry lances. The men 
dispersed, and a number of them, led by William E. 
Harris, were, at their own request, attached to the 
Fourth Cavalry. In November they arrived in Camp 
Harlan, where they were joined by others and formed 
Company L. The first officers were Captain William 
E. Harris, First-Lieutenant William H. Sells, Second- 
Lieutenant William W. Woods. 

Company M was organized in Camp Harlan, in 
November, nearly all of its men coming from Jefferson 
County. The first officers were Captain Abial E,. 
Pierce, First-Lieutenant Frederick S. Whiting, Second- 
Lieutenant Aaron J. Newby. 



ORGANIZATION AND EQUIPMENT. g 

Early in November, Orrin Castle brought about 
twenty men into Camp Harlan from Iowa and Johnson 
counties, expecting to organize a company and to be- 
come captain; but, not succeeding, lie left the camp. 
His men divided and Joined diiferent companies in the 
camp, the largest squad going into H. 

A number of the men in diiferent companies had 
served in the First Iowa Infantry, through its three 
months' term. Many others, who lived in the region 
bordering Missouri, had, in August, marched in inde- 
pendent companies, rudely organized for defense 
against the threatened forays of Missouri secessionists. 
Captains Spearman and Pierce had led such companies 
even into Missouri, and the most of the men who were 
then with them now followed them into the Fourth 
Cavalry. 

Not only the counties above named, but other 
counties in the State, and even other States, were 
represented in the regiment. 

In addition to the men who were in these companies, 
there were twenty-eight enlisted men on the non-com- 
missioned staff (regimental and battalion), and 
seventeen in the regimental band. They were en- 
listed as privates in the different companies, some of 
them for the purpose of being placed on the staff or 
in the band. The band carried the usual brass instru- 
ments, drums, etc., of a military band, and David 
McCrackin, of Fairfield, was its leader. 

In October, 1862, under orders from the War De- 
partment, following the Act of Congress of July 17, 
1862, the band and the battalion staff organization 
were discontinued. Some of the men thus released 
took a discharge from the service, while the others re- 



lo STOR Y OF A CA VALR V REGIMENT. 



turned to the companies in the regiment in which they 
had originally enlisted. 

The organization of the volunteer cavalry at that 
time was required to be the same as that of the regu- 
lars, which, though under an Act of July 29, 1861, 
was substantially the same as the organization im- 
mediately following the Revolutionary war. Each 
regiment consisted of three battalions, each battalion 
of two squadrons, each squadron of two companies, 
and each company of one captain, one first-lieutenant, 
one second-lieutenant, one first-sergeant, one quarter- 
master-sergeant, four sergeants, eight corporals, two 
musicians, two farriers, one saddler, one wagoner, and 
seventy-two privates. The " musicians " were buglers. 
For each battalion there was a major, an adjutant, a 
quartermaster-and-commissary (commissioned), and a 
sergeant-major, a quartermaster-sergeant, a commissary- 
sergeant, a hospital-steward, a saddler-sergeant, and a 
veterinary-sergeant (non-commissioned). To the regi- 
ment were allowed a colonel, a lieutenant-colonel, a 
regimental adjutant, a regimental quartermaster-and- 
commissary, and two chief-buglers. Except the bat- 
talion quartermasters-and-commissaries, all the staff 
officers were required to be lieutenants of the line, 
specially detailed to staff duty. A surgeon, an assist- 
ant-surgeon, a chaplain, and a sergeant-major, were 
added by special enactment. Of course, the purpose 
of this battalion organization was, that the battalions 
might operate independently and at different places 
from each other, as if they were separate regiments, 
this being almost invariably the practice in the armies 
of the United States before the Civil war. But, in 
the progress of the war, as the volunteer armies grew 



ORGANIZA TION AND EQ UIPMENT. 1 1 

in size, and the use of cavalry regiments unbroken 
became desirable, the old organization was found 
clumsy and unnecessarily burdened with staff-officers. 
Accordingly, under the Act of July 17, 1862, a re- 
organization was effected. The battalion staff and 
non-commissioned staff were dropped, the three majors 
became regimental officers, but remained nominally in 
command of the respective battalions, in the order of 
their seniority, and the adjutant, the quartermaster and 
the commissary, were to be extra first-lieutenants, 
specially commissioned to those places ; and the regi- 
mental non-commissioned staff was reorganized by 
dropping the two chief-buglers and by the creation of 
a sergeant-major, two hospital-stewards, a saddler- 
sergeant, a chief-trumpeter, and a chief-farrier. The 
•'squadron " was discontinued. To each company (or 
"troop," as now designated by the law) were added a 
supernumerary second-lieutenant, a commissary-ser- 
geant, a sixth sergeant, two teamsters, and six privates, 
while the two musicians, or buglers, of the old law 
were dropped. 

By the Act of March 3, 1863, the places of super- 
numerary second-lieutenant, the two teamsters in each 
company, and the chief-farrier of the regiment, were 
abolished, and two trumpeters in each company and a 
regimental veterinary-surgeon were allowed. The 
organization as now established remained unchanged 
to the end of the war. The places of supernumerary 
second-lieutenants were never filled in the Fourth 
Iowa, though in the summer of 1862 the men in each 
company interested themselves in " electing " a comrade 
to that office. 

The legislature of the State of Iowa, with anxious 



12 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

care for the healtli of Iowa troops, at its first session 
after tlie breaking out of tlie war, provided by law for 
the commissioning and paying of an " additional assist- 
ant-surgeon " in each Iowa regiment, and the place ^vas 
filled for a few months in the Fourth Cavalry ; but the 
War Department declined to permit such an ofiicer to 
serve, and, the additional-assistant of the Fourth 
Cavalry being commissioned as assistant-surgeon to the 
regiment, the place was not again filled. 

There were a few other positions in the regiment to 
which titles were attached by custom, but those who 
held them were enlisted men, usually privates, detailed 
from the companies, and serving without extra rank 
or pay. Such were the wagon-master, in charge of 
all wagons and draught animals and their drivers, the 
ward-master, in immediate charge of the patients 
and the nurses in hospital, and the armorer, who 
repaired arms and advised about them. The work of 
the wagon-master often required great endurance, as 
well as ability, especially in the earlier years of the 
service, when there were thirty or forty of the huge 
army wagons, with as many drivers and about two 
hundred mules, in his charge, while the roads were 
often not only very difficult but dangerous. The first 
man appointed to this place was Charles Litzenberg, of 
Company G. He served until 1864, when he re- 
enlisted, became Wagon-Master of the brigade, and 
was succeeded in the regiment by Sylvanus E,. Meigs, 
of E, who served to the end of the war. The Ward- 
Master through almost the whole of the service of the 
regiment was Thomas Robb, of H, and the Armorer, 
Ephraim T. Palmer, of E. 

About the 20th of November, 1861, the work of 



ORGANIZATION AND EQUIPMENT. 13 

organization being substantially completed, a muster- 
ing officer, Captain Alexander Chambers, Sixteenth 
United States Infantry, appeared in camp, and on 
Saturday, the 23d, he began to muster the companies 
into the army of the United States. On that day 
Companies A, E and F were mustered in ; on the 25th 
Companies B, C, D, I, K and M ; on the 2'7th Company 
G ; on the 24th of December Company L ; and on the 
1st of January, 1862, Company H. 

The Field-and-Staff and Non-commissioned-Staff were 
mustered in on the 1st of January, 1862, and then 
stood as follows : Colonel Asbury B. Porter, Majors 
Simeon D. Swan, Joseph E. Jewett and George A. 
Stone, Adjutant George W. Waldron, Quartermaster 
Simon P. Lauffer, Surgeon Andrew W. McClure, As- 
sistant-Surgeon Wellington Bird, Chaplain Andrew 
J. Kirkpatrick, Sergeant-Major Edward D. Ketcham, 
Quartermaster-Sergeant Edward W. Kaymond, Com- 
missary-Sergeant William T. Allen, and Chief -Buglers 
Carroll H. Bartruff and George W. Marsh. 
' The lieutenant-colonelcy was to be given to some 
officer of the regular army, who should be an instruc- 
tor in tactics and discipline. The place was filled in 
January by the appointment of Lieutenant Thomas 
Drummond of the Fifth United States Cavalry. He 
became at once a very conspicuous figure in the regi- 
ment. He was young and handsome, highly intelli- 
gent, with a very distinct ]3ersonal and military pride, 
and impetuous to the point of recklessness. He set 
about disciplining and training the regiment with an 
imperious energy that startled the men, and gave them 
for the first time the idea that a soldier is a man who 
obeys another man's orders. He would hear no excuse 



u 

14 SrOJ? Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

for failure or neglect, lie liad no patience with dulness 
or slowness, and his comments upon the shortcomings 
of an of&cer were as prompt and distinct, and as forci- 
ble and impolite in language, as upon those of a private. 
Some of the men he punished for offenses which they 
considered trivial. To them, in their greenness, the 
taking a bit of rest when on guard, some disorder 
of dress on parade, leaving a horse once ungroomed, 
might be contrary to strict army regulations, but were 
not criminal, and the volunteers were not hireling 
soldiery, but free and independent American citizens. 
This spirit, the necessary result of American institu- 
tions, was hard to control in the army. Indeed it was 
never wholly controlled, though it was slowly subordi- 
nated to higher considerations, through that good sense 
which hard experience taught the volunteers. Grad- 
ually they learned the value, the necessity, of dis- 
cipline. 

But in these camp trials the men found comfort 
in knowing that their officers suffered too ; for Colonel 
Drummond kept the officers in a " school," where daily 
and without mercy he instructed and harassed them, 
characterizing in no diplomatic phrases any lack of 
capacity that he found. He became quickly the one 
powerful man in the camp, — the most hated, feared, 
and admired. 

With such men as composed the average volunteer 
regiment at the beginning of the war it would be 
hardly possible for such an officer to succeed. Colonel 
Drummond tried hard, but he had little support or 
encouragement from either officers or men, and he met 
constantly as much difficulty and obstruction as could 
be put in his way. He went into the field with the 



ORGANIZATION AND EQUIPMENT. 15 

regiment, but in a few months resigned and returned to 
the Fifth Cavahy, in the East. In the battle of Five 
Forks, Sheridan's crowning exploit with cavalry, April 
1, 1865, he was killed. But it had already come about 
that he was spoken of in the Fourth Iowa with great 
respect and admiration, and with sincere interest in his 
career ; for the volunteers had in the meantime learned 
something of soldiering. ' 

The book of tactics first supplied to the regiment 
was that by General Scott, adopted by the War De- 
partment in 1841 ; but there was little opportunity for 
mounted manoeuvres or drills while the regiment was 
at Camp Harlan, and the men acquired small knowl- 
edge of the tactics. The officers, however, did not 
wholly escape. They had to learn at least the theory 
of field movements. Partly through their own zealous 
studies and partly by dint of Colonel Drummond's 
pointed methods of instruction in his "school," they 
acquired some knowledge of the art of war, and found 
that there was a great deal more to be learned. 

But before the winter was over Scott's tactics were 
replaced by Cooke's, and the double-rank dragoon 
formation of the " troop " gave place to the single- 
rank of the " company," an improvement of the time 
for light cavalry. It was a great change, but it was 
popular, because the Cooke methods were more simple 
and easy, and appeared to be more effective. As the 
lack of horse equipments prevented, however, any gen- 
eral or regular mounted drill, it cannot be said that 
anybody became skilful in tactical operations while in 
Camp Harlan. 

The struggles of the officers were of course contin- 
ually reflected upon the men, and they were drilled 



1 6 STOJiY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

and taught, formed and re-formed, pulled and hauled, 
put through movements and evolutions more or less 
correct or incorrect, impossible or astonishing, as must 
naturally be the case when novices try to acquire 
among themselves a practical knowledge of military 
science. The blind led the blind, and often both fell 
into the ditch, though not always at the same time ; 
and the vexation of an anxious officer was many times 
only the occasion for unfeeling amusement on the part 
of his pupils, thrown into confusion by his mistakes. 
The privates were not yet filled with awe of the men 
who wore shoulder-straps, who only a few weeks be- 
fore had been on an equality with themselves, as com- 
panions or acquaintances in town or country life. 
Gradually, however, the soldierly capacity was devel- 
oped, and, as the study became more and more under- 
stood and appreciated, while the daily news of the 
war made the object of it all seem greater and more 
difficult, both officers and men became more earnest 
and interested in their work, and progressed together 
in increasing harmony. 

It was a very cold winter, with many snows. It 
would have been difficult to keep up field-drill, even if 
there had been a sufficient equipment; but some 
instruction could be given in the barracks, and on 
most days the parade-ground could be used for foot- 
drill by companies, or for the frequent "inspections," 
which were usually feared, or the "dress-parades," 
when the command was shown off to admiring visitors. 
At any rate, the men were generally of opinion that 
they had enough to do, and were constantly willing to 
take such relaxation as could be got upon " a pass ta 
go to town." 



OR GANIZA TION AND EQ UIPMENT. 1 7 



The relations between tlie people of the town and 
the men in the camp were always very harmonious and 
agreeable. The town was proud of the regiment, 
especially because it was the first regiment encamped 
there, and because many of the officers and men were 
respected citizens of the place. 

If there was any one of the people held by the regi- 
ment in higher estimation than others, it was Senator 
Harlan. He had distinguished and endeared himself 
to all loyal lowans by his clear and forcible speeches 
on the right side of every war question, and by the 
steady zeal and energy with which he gave himself 
wholly to the cause. As he had persistently urged 
the War Department to authorize a fourth regiment of 
cavalry to be raised in the State, so, when he had suc- 
ceeded in that, he devoted himself with untiring spirit 
to its organization, equipment, and personal comfort. 
He was constantly in communication with the governor 
of the State, and the officials at Washington, in behalf 
of the regiment, and he visited the camp so often that 
every soldier came to know him. Many men will 
remember how these visits added to their comfort, for 
the kind man always brought a quantity of things in 
his buggy, for the comfort or convenience of the 
soldiers, which he carried into the barracks and pre- 
sented himself. 

Nor has his interest in the regiment ever diminished. 
He visited it in the field during the war, and in all its 
vicissitudes he was its steady friend; and in later 
years, at every gathering of the survivors, he is an 
honored guest. He may well be called the " Father of 
the Regiment." 

But Mount Pleasant was full of patriotic people 



1 8 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



who gladly did everything in their power for the cause 
and for the regiment. Any man of the camp would 
have been sure, at any time, of a sincere welcome in 
almost any house or family in the town. "Almost 
any," it is said, because, although the community was 
among the most loyal and zealous in the State, there 
were in it some " Copperheads," or " Secesh," as they 
were colloquially called, who were shy of the Union 
volunteers. There were also a few persons known or 
suspected to be engaged in selling liquor to the volun- 
teers. 

The selling of liquor had always been considered by 
the good people of Mount Pleasant as nothing less 
than the work of the Devil himself ; but now, when 
they believed it was coiTupting the innocent young 
men who were going out to save the country, their 
indignation would not be restrained. Not finding any 
law to suit their view, they constituted themselves the 
law and the court. Parties composed of citizens and 
volunteers, whose ambition it was to make others as 
good as themselves, entered several houses occupied by 
the children of sin, and spilled their liquors in the 
street. Truth would compel the writer to admit that 
he was himself in one of these raids of compulsory 
temperance, in the interest of the good government of 
his own company. 

But the visits of the soldiers among the patriotic 
people of the town were no more frequent than the 
visits of the people at the camp. Indeed, their gener- 
ous attentions were constant, and very many comforts 
of the men in camp, in health as well as in sickness, 
including books, dainties in food, and various devices 
to relieve the inconvenience or monotony of camp life. 



ORGANIZATION AND EQUIPMENT. 19 



were due to the watchful and untiring care of the men 
and women of that loyal and beautiful little city. 

This good fortune of the new soldiers was of special 
value as sickness increased among them. The great 
change in mode of life and the necessary crowding of 
the men in the barracks in cold weather, when doors 
and windows must be kept closed, had their natural 
result in many cases of illness. There was nothing 
very serious, however, until the measles appeared. 
This disease increased with great rapidity, until fully 
one third of the men in camp had taken it. As many 
as possible were moved to a hospital established by 
Surgeon McClure in the town, but it was necessary to 
treat the milder cases in the barracks. All the doctors 
in the town lent their aid to the two surgeons of the 
regiment ; but the inevitable " catching cold " made it 
a very severe experience for many of the patients, and 
in spite of all efforts, some of them died in relapse, or 
fell into long or permanent disability in the sequelce. 

It will be pleasant for the doctors who served so 
faithfully through that time of trial, to read (if they 
have not already read it), that a medical author, of the 
highest repute in his school, has said that "In our 
Civil War the measles raged with great fierceness in 
some of the regiments, and, under allopathic treatment^ 
destroyed many lives," 

The first death in the regiment was that of Benjamin 
Ullery, a private of Company A, who died November 
3, 1861, in the hospital in Mount Pleasant. This death 
naturally appealed strongly to the imagination of the 
citizens as well as the volunteers. It attracted great 
attention, and the funeral was remarkably large and 
impressive. Other deaths from disease followed. 



20 STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

and when the regiment left Mount Pleasant, in Feb- 
ruaiy, 1862, the men had buried there nine of their 
comi'ades. 

Thouo-h left behind in their orraves when their com- 
rades went out to seek a more famous death in the 
field, the nine were not without fi'iends to keep their 
memory green. One steadfast care-taker was Elizabeth 
Arrowsmith, — "■ Lizzie Arrowsmith " she was, as she 
still is, to all Mount Pleasant. Her interest in the 
men who lost their lives in the cause began when she 
was a young girl, in the days of Camp Haitian, and the 
flame of her zeal has never diminished. Some other 
friend anticipated her by planting an evergreen for 
each of her sleeping heroes, but every year saw some 
evidence of her care for their graves. For many years 
it was her sorrow that no stones were there to tell the 
names. The cost of such stones was beyond her own 
slender purse. But when the government undertook 
to supply headstones for the soldiers' graves in the 
national cemeteries, she saw her opportunity. She 
applied, and followed up her application, and, by dint 
of persistence, succeeded. Her nine green mounds 
were furnished with stones like those in the national 
cemeteries, and, ^vith deep satisfaction and pride, she 
saw them at last in place. Yet, not content with that 
success, she extended her efforts, and now she is widely 
known and respected in the "West for her loving care 
of the graves of fallen patriots. In that cemeteiy at 
Mount Pleasant many more gi*aves than the nine are 
now the homes of men of the Fourth Iowa Cavaliy and 
of other reojiments, and all are watched bv that faithful 
fi'iend. Each year, on Decoration Day, their living 
comrades mai'ch out to strew their sraves with flow* 



ORGANIZATION AND EQUIPMENT. 21 



ers, and Lizzie AiTOWsmith always has an honored 
place in the silent procession. 

When the companies were mustered in, in November, 
1861, their numbers were barely enough to entitle 
them to the full number of company and field officers ; 
but additional enlistments were made in all companies 
during the winter, and in February the aggregate of 
officers and men was 1,086, the highest number on the 
rolls until the large accession of recruits in the spring 
of 1864. 

The company officers were, at first, all elected by 
the men, that is, the Governor of the State commis- 
sioned to the different positions the men who were 
reported to him as already chosen by the vote of their 
comrades; so that all the line officers may be said to 
have first enlisted as privates. This practice of leaving 
the choice of company officers to the men continued, in 
filling vacancies, until the summer of 1863, the Colonel 
or temporaiy regimental commander always "recom- 
mending " to the Governor, for commissions, the men 
who had got a majority of votes in their respective 
companies. The result, as must naturally be expected, 
was more or less vicious and demoralizing. The prac- 
tice was a constant temptation to intrigue and treach- 
ery in obtaining votes, it caused a fever of ill-feeling 
or discontent, presented a serious obstacle to the 
improvement of discipline, prevented the full develop- 
ment of that esprit de coi'ps which is of such great 
value among soldiers, and put upon mere personal 
popularity that premium which should have been the 
reward of capacity and courage. AVhen that costly 
system was changed for the only true system, appoint- 
ment and promotion for merit alone, the men were very 



2 2 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



unwilling to give up what they thought their " right " 
to elect their officers ; but they learned in time that it 
was not by votes that the best officers were obtained, 
and before the war was ended it was clear to all that 
the only lasting popularity of an officer is that earned 
by a persistent and successful performance of duty in 
the field. 

When the regiment was mustered in, it had a full 
supply of remarkably good horses. All or nearly all 
of them were actually examined and chosen by Colonel 
Porter himself ; and he was not only a very good judge 
of horses, but he took especial pride in mounting the 
men. He assigned the horses to the several companies 
in different colors. Many companies, of course, were 
mounted upon bays. The next highest number were 
on sorrels, and the next on browns. But Company A 
had grays, and Company K blacks, which led to their 
being called, jocularly, the " White-horse Cavalry " and 
the "Black-horse Cavalry." The Regimental Band, 
however, attracted more attention at first, in respect to 
horses, than any company, because they all rode 
fine large roans. There was a continued effort made 
during the early part of the service of the regiment to 
maintain this arrangement of the colors, fresh horses 
being distributed, as far as possible, in accordance with 
it; but the difficulty of obtaining horses steadily 
increased, and the maintenance of the colors became 
impracticable. 

But the horses formed the only part of the equip- 
ment that was obtained early. It seemed to the im- 
patient that saddles and arms would never come. 
Even blankets and clothing were not furnished until 
the winter was half gone. On very cold days all 



ORGANIZATION AND EQUIPMENT. 23 



guards were taken off, because many of the men 
had not overcoats or sufficient other clothing. It 
was late in January when saddles and bridles came. 
Soon afterward sabres and belts appeared. Then, 
at last, the regiment began to present a martial 
appearance. 

In the last week of December, 1861, there was much 
talk of the regiment going to New Albany, in Indiana, 
where there was then a large camp for cavalry. In- 
deed, it was ordered there. Special Orders No. 336, 
Headquarters of the Army, dated December 23, 1861, 
directed that all regiments of cavalry west of Ohio 
(except those in Missouri), not already in the field, 
whether organized or partly organized, be concentrated 
with the least possible delay on the Ohio River, at or 
near New Albany. This order was sent to the Gov- 
ernor of Iowa, and was communicated to Colonel 
Porter, but, for some reason not now known, it was 
not obeyed by the Fourth Iowa. 

On the 4th of January, 1862, the Governor was di- 
rected, by telegram and letter from the War Depart- 
ment, to send the regiment immediately to Fort 
Leavenworth. This order was given to the companies. 
Intense interest was at once excited, and with much 
activity prejDarations were begun. 

Northwestern Missouri had been for six months the 
scene of a feverish, desultory warfare, and in the south- 
west the two armies which a month later fought the 
desperate battles at Pea Ridge were in expectation of 
an early conflict. But Fort Leavenworth was on the 
frontier, and the prospect of going there was not 
pleasant to the men of the new regiment. However, 
the order was not executed. Why it was counter- 



24 STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 



manded, or replaced by other orders, is not known to 
the writer. The incongplete equipment of the regi- 
ment would have been a good reason, and probably 
was the one acted upon. 

Then there was a period during which it seemed the 
regiment was wholly neglected or forgotten by the 
authorities. No orders were received, no supplies 
could be obtained, and there appeared to be no place 
for the regiment in any Western department. Even 
so late as January 11th, the Colonel reported to the 
Governor that neither clothing, arms, tents, nor horse 
equipments, had yet been received. Rumors went 
about that the regiment would be disbanded, and a 
feeling of discouragement prevailed throughout the 
camp. Colonel Porter was so much concerned that he 
started for Washington, but at Chicago he received 
encouraging assurances, and returned. 

Shortly afterward, about the 20th of February, an 
order was received from the War Department, requir- 
ing the regiment to move to St. Louis, and there com- 
plete its equipment, preparatory to joining the " Army 
of the Southwest," then in southwest Missouri, under 
General Curtis. The long-looked-for service in the 
field was about to come. The companies were ready 
immediately, and were moved as fast as transportation 
was furnished. The battalions went ' separately, the 
First leaving Mount Pleasant on the 26th of February, 
the Second on the 28th, and the Third on the 3d of 
March. The convalescents from the hospital and men 
otherwise detained went a day or two later, in charge 
of Surgeon McClure. The route was by rail to Bur- 
lington, thence across the Mississippi and through 
Illinois, by way of Galesburg and Alton, to East St, 



ORGANIZATION AND EQUIPMENT. 25 



Louis. Crossing tlie river there, the battalions marched 
through St. Louis, and were quartered in Benton 
Barracks. 

Surrounded here by a large number of other troops, 
some of Avhom had already been in the field, occupied 
at once and actively in the many duties of soldiers 
preparing for active service, and the whole camp a 
constant and exhilarating military scene, the change in 
the life of our men was very great ; and battles seemed 
to them very near at hand. The remainder of the 
clothing, blankets, and horse equipments required 
were now issued, together with camp equipage, tents, 
and wagons. And to the heavy dragoon sabres were 
added firearms. But what arms ! About four hundred 
men were loaded with " Austrian " rifies, a very heavy 
and clumsy, though rather short, infantry gun, a 
muzzle-loader, with a ramrod. Half the remainder had 
"Starr's" revolver, a five-shooter, percussion-cap and 
paper-cartridge pistol, of a bad pattern and poorly 
made, while all, or nearly all, received a pair of horse- 
pistols, to be carried in holsters on the pommel of the 
saddle, the smooth-bore, single-barrelled, muzzle-loader 
used in the Mexican war. 

These rifles and revolvers never gained fav^or in the 
regiment; indeed, it is probable that they did more 
harm than good, because there was a general want of 
reliance upon them. The Starr revolver caused 
more fear in the regiment than it ever did among the 
enemy. Its shot was very uncertain, -its machinery 
often failed to work, and it had a vicious tendency to 
go off at a wrong moment. The holster-pistols were 
better thought of. They were found to be more effec- 
tive than the revolvers, and far more easily managed 



2 6 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



than the rifles. Many of them were retained until the 
Colt's revolvers came, in 1863. 

Fully equipped now for the field, the green cavalry- 
man was a fearful and wonderful object. Mounted 
upon his charger, in the midst of all the paraphernalia 
and adornments of war, a moving arsenal and military 
depot, he must have struck surprise, if not terror, into 
the minds of his enemies. Strapped and strung over 
his clothes, he carried a big sabre and metal scabbard 
four feet long, an Austrian rifle or a heavy revolver, a 
box of cartridges, a box of percussion caps, a tin can- 
teen for water, a haversack containing rations, a tin 
coffee-cup, and such other devices and traps as were 
recommended to his fancy as useful or beautiful. The 
weight of all this easily reached or exceeded twenty-five 
pounds. The army clothing was heavy, and, with the 
overcoat, must have been twenty pounds. So this man, 
intended 'especially for light and active service, carried 
on his body, in the early part of his career, a weight of 
nearly fifty pounds. When he was on foot he moved 
with a great clapping and clanking of his arms and 
accoutrements, and so constrained by the many bands 
crossing his body that any rapid motion was absurdly 
impossible. When he was mounted, his surrounding 
equipments were doubled in numbei*, and his appear- 
ance became more ridiculous. His horse carried, fas- 
tened to the saddle, a pair of thick leather holsters 
with pistols, a pair of saddle-bags filled with the rider's 
extra clothing; toilet articles, and small belongings, a 
nose-bag, perhaps filled with corn, a heavy leather hal- 
ter, an iron picket-pin with a long lariat or rope for 
tethering the horse, usually two horse-shoes with extra 
nails, a curry-comb and horse-brush, a set of gun-tools 



ORGANIZATION AND EQUIPMENT. 27 

and materials for the care of ai'ms, a rubber blanket or 
poncho J a pair of woollen blankets, a blouse, a cap or 
hat, and such other utensils and articles of clothing 
or decoration as the owner was pleased to keep. This 
mass of furniture, with the saddle, would weigh in 
most cases seventy pounds. So, in the first marches, 
the unfortunate horse was compelled to cany a burden 
ranging from two hundred to two hundred and fifty 
pounds. When the rider was in the saddle, begirt 
with all his magazine, it was easy to imagine him pro- 
tected from any ordinary assault. His properties rose 
before and behind him like fortifications, and those 
strung over his shoulders covered well his flanks. To 
the uninitiated it was a mystery how the rider got into 
the saddle; how he could rise to a sufficient height 
and how then descend upon the seat was the problem. 
The irreverent infantry said that it was done with the 
aid of a derrick, or by first climbing to the top of 
a high fence or the fork of a tree. 

It was perhaps due to the custom of carrying these 
complex incumbrances that the story became current 
among the rebels in the East, in the early part of the 
war, that the Yankee cavalrymen were strapped to 
their saddles to prevent their running away. 

Yet some of the men were not content with the 
regulation load. They added a set of plate-armor to it. 
Among the scores of articles for various uses which 
were peddled in the camps within the first year of the 
war, was an " armored vest." It was a vest of blue 
cloth, cut in military style, with two plates of steel, 
formed to fit the body and fastened between the cloth 
and the lining, so as to cover the front of the wearer 
from the neck to the waist. Samples of the plates 



28 STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

were exhibited in the camps, with deep marks upon 
them where bullets had failed to penetrate, a spectacle 
which, with the glib tongues of the dealers, induced a 
few of the officers and men to buy ; and some of the 
horses, accordingly, had eight or ten pounds more to 
carry. 

Not for long, however, did any of the horses bear 
these dreadful loads. The evident bad effect upon the 
horses, the care of so many ai-ticles, the fact that some 
of them were not used often enough to justify the 
trouble of keeping them, and the invaluable lesson 
steadily taught by experience, that only a few things 
are really needed by a soldier, presented a succession of 
reasons for diminishing the inventoiy. The few 
" armored vests " disappeared on the first march. The 
lariat was of little use, it often entangled the feet of 
horses and burned them, and, with its big picket-pin, it 
was " lost." ^ The nose-bag was thrown away by many, 
and carried empty as much as possible by others. The 
rider's clothing was reduced to the least possible — a 
mere change of underclothing in addition to the gar- 
ments worn. The hat was stripped of its trimmings, 
or disappeared entirely in favor of the cap. The pair 
of blankets was reduced to a single one. Of the 
small articles for toilet and other uses, only those abso- 
lutely necessary were retained. One horseshoe and 
four nails only were carried, unless there was an 
express order to carry more. If a curry-comb or brush 

' Army officers are required to account strictly for all the equipments entrusted 
to the men. Those which could not be satisfactorily traced were likely to 
appear in the column headed "Lost." And so, some of the men, whose mora) 
principles had become disabled or elastic, having decided that certain articles 
were troublesome or unnecessary, could no longer find them, and on inspection 
were compelled to report them " lost." 



ORGANIZATION AND EQUIPMENT. 29 

disappeared, no matter, — one man with a comb and 
another with a brush had enough for two. Even the 
supply remaining according to this description was 
further reduced by many of the men. It became a fine 
art how to lessen .the burden of the horse; and the 
best soldiers were those whose horses were packed so 
lightly that the carbine was the biggest part of the 
load. If it was a wonder in the first campaign how a 
cavalryman could get on to or move his horse when 
equipped for the field, the wonder afterward came to 
be, how a man could live with so meagre an equip- 
ment. But the trooper of experience knew what he 
was about, and was well repaid for any personal dis- 
comfort in the good condition of his horse and his 
confident reliance upon him. And if any civilian 
friend of his, having seen him on the first campaign 
and again in later years, could have regretted the total 
disappearance of his outward splendor, his regret 
would have ceased when he found that the careless 
dress and bronzed skin covered the hardened muscle 
and determined spirit of a soldier, made effective 
through real needs, by great marches, habitual priva- 
tions, and trials by fire. 



CHAPTER II. 

IN THE FIELD MISSOURI AND ARKANSAS. 

A CAMPAIGN WITH THE ARMY OF THE SOUTHWEST. 

At the very outbreak of the war began the struggle 
for the possession of Missouri. In all parts of that 
State the Unionists and Secessionists were about equal 
in numbers. The State government was at first in the 
hands of the Secessionists, but by the prompt and 
vigorous action of United States officers, supported by 
a few of the most influential political leaders, the 
Unionists gained the ascendancy. In General Lyon's 
success at Boone ville, in June, 1861, the Secession 
government was overthrown ; and his subsequent vic- 
tory at Wilson's Creek left to the rebel forces only the 
southwest corner of the State. 

Fremont succeeded the brave Lyon, and Curtis 
superseded Fremont. The War Department under- 
took to extend its control to Arkansas. The troops 
in the field were largely increased, and were organized 
as the Army of the Southwest. With an immediate 
base at Springfield, this army was to defeat the com- 
bined forces of the rebels under Price, McCulloch, and 
Van Dorn, beyond that town, and finally to take Little 
Rock and occupy Arkansas. It was a greater work 
than was then realized. The vast distances, the rude 
and difficult roads, the many wide stretches of entirely 

30 



MISSOURI AND ARKANSAS. 31 



wild lands in the two States, making it impossible to 
rely upon the country for forage, and the heavy sick- 
lists inevitable in an army of green volunteers, proved 
to be very serious obstacles. 

It was in February, 1862, when Curtis was advan- 
cing from Springfield and the enemy was falling back 
before him, that the Fourth Iowa Cavalry was ordered 
from its rendezvous to St. Louis, to become a part of 
his army. So when the regiment went into the field, 
the men expected to have immediately a share in the 
grand conflict by which the Union flag was to be 
established, not only over their neighbor State, but 
over the greater part of the country on their own side 
of the Mississippi. 

At daybreak on the 10th of March, 1862, the regi- 
ment mounted and moved out from Benton Barracks, 
to join the Army of the Southwest. That army was 
more than three hundred miles distant, in the extreme 
northwestern county of Arkansas, and was then be- 
lieved to be about to fight the decisive battle. But 
the fact was, that the fierce battles of Cross Hollows 
and Pea Ridge were already fought (March 7th and 
8th), and the news that the Union army had triumphed 
was on the way to St. Louis. 

The first stage of the movement, to Rolla, about one 
hundred miles southwest of St. Louis, was to be made 
l3y rail ; but owing to the rains, the bad condition of 
the road and its rolling stock, and the clumsiness of 
movement by inexperienced soldiers, there was much 
delay. Four days were spent in getting the regiment 
to Rolla. The First Battalion, under Major Swan, 
arrived in advance. It was just going into camp, on a 
hill west of Rolla, in the afternoon of the 11th, when 



32 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

an order was received for forty men, to march, as an 
escort to a party of paymasters going out to Curtis' 
army. 

This detachment was made from Company A, and 
Lieutenant Guylee was placed in command. It was 
the first service of any of the regiment in the field. 
The work required was active, as it was necessary for 
the paymasters to move rapidly ; and, because of the 
great amount of money carried, a large part of the 
detachment was on guard all the time. The road was 
by Waynesville and Lebanon, to Springfield, where the 
detachment remained some days, while the troops of 
that post were being paid. Then, a larger force being 
needed for the more exposed road from Springfield to 
Pea Ridge, it was attached to Colonel Wright's Bat- 
talion of Missouri Cavalry, the whole forming a guard 
of about three hundred men, commanded by Colonel 
Wright. The march was continued by the battle-field 
of Wilson's Creek and Cassville, and ended on the 
26th of March at the battle-field of Pea Ridge, where 
Curtis' victorious troops were lying encamped. Its 
duty completed, the detachment i*emained at Pea 
Ridge several days, awaiting orders, the men mean- 
while greatly interested in viewing the field of the 
recent battles. The extraordinary extent of the field 
or fields, the endless debris of the battles, the thickly 
scattered shot and shell still on the ground, the shattered 
buildings and trees, and the numerous new-filled graves, 
all made a vivid impression upon the minds of these 
green volunteers, who had come out to shoot and be 
shot. 

A few days later this detachment countermarched 
to Springfield. The remainder of the regiment had 



MISSOURI AND ARKANSAS. 33 



moved on from Rolla to Springfield, tliougli very 
slowly, the roads being lieavy from rains, and several 
halts being made while companies were detached and 
sent out for different purposes to different places off 
the line of march. 

One of these detachments was composed of Companies 
B and E, commanded by Captain Peters of B. Com- 
pany E was under its First -Sergeant, Exum Saint. 
The Captain's orders were to occupy the country and 
patrol the roads between Rolla and Jefferson City, 
about fifty miles, to preserve order there, and especially 
to prevent the passage to the southwest of Secessionists 
who were believed to be bent upon joining Price. The 
detachment thus became part of a cordon which was 
then stretched quite across the State ; and it remained 
in this service two or three weeks, when it was relieved 
by other cavalry and went on to Springfield. One of 
its captures made ^vhile patrolling was a small party of 
white men, mounted and in citizens' dress, who had in 
their possession a negro man in handcuffs, fastened 
in a crouching posture on a horse. The account given 
of themselves by the whites was, that they were civil 
oflSicers from Texas and that the negro was a fugitive 
from justice. They had no papers to confirm that 
statement, nor any paper at all but a pass bearing the 
name of the commandant at Jefferson City. It was 
not at all probable that, a year after the war was 
begun, the Governor of Texas would send civil officers 
to Missouri for a black delinquent. Not only was it a 
year after the beginning of the war, but five or six bat- 
tles and many minor engagements had been fought in 
Missouri, and substantially the whole State was under 
martial law and controlled by the Union army. By 



34 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



any reasonable construction of appearances the men 
were merely slave-hunters and their captive a fugitive 
slave. The party was reported to Captain Peters, but 
he felt compelled by the pass to avoid interference. 
The black captive was carried away in his chains. 

Another detachment was composed of Companies F 
and L, under Captain Winslow. On the day following 
their arrival in Rolla, these companies were ordered to 
reinforce a body of cavalry stationed at Salem, about 
fifty miles southwest. They started at four o'clock in 
the afternoon and, with great efforts, succeeded in 
marching about eight miles before ten o'clock that 
night. They were delayed by the incessant trouble 
they had in moving their four over-loaded company 
wagons, each drawn by six mules for the first time 
harnessed together, over a hilly road. In later years 
they would have gone with one wagon or none at all, 
and would not have permitted any serious delay from 
such a cause. The wagons being lightened during the 
night, a march of about twenty-five miles was made the 
next day. In the evening of that day, when the com- 
panies w^ere in camp, an officer aj)peared, sent from 
Salem, who represented that there was immediate 
danger of an attack upon the town, and begged that 
the detachment be hurried through before daylight. 
Six men were left with the wagons, and the remainder, 
marching all night as rapidly as the bad roads would 
permit, arrived at Salem at daybreak; but they found 
that the fear of an attack had arisen only from the re- 
port that a scouting party of rebel cavalry had been 
seen near the town. The two companies remained 
several days at Salem, until orders were received to 
Join their regiment at Springfield. On their way, two 



MISSOURI AND ARKANSAS. 35 



other companies of the regiment, D and G, under Cap- 
tain Spearman, were met and added to the command. 
These companies had been scouting every day since 
their arrival at Kolla. They had marched many 
miles without an opportunity to do anything worth 
recording. 

At Springfield all the companies were encamped 
together, west of the town, in tents, and remained there 
a,bout three weeks. The weather was very rainy, and 
the mud was so deep, in the camp as well as the roads, 
that any movement was difficult, whether on foot or 
by horses. But the time was occupied, as far as 
practicable, in drilling, instruction, and practice in field 
movement. There were large details for picketing and 
other guard duty, and for some scouting, but the most 
important experience w^as one which showed its im- 
portance later, in its effect upon the health of the 
men. The unavoidable exposure to the wet and cold 
in that camp, and that imprudence in diet and neglect 
of precaution which always characterize green soldiers, 
were no doubt the causes of the general and destruc- 
tive illness which soon afterward afilicted the regiment. 

General Curtis now undertook his campaign against 
Little Rock, but a direct march was impossible for 
lack of supplies. About the 10th of April he left Pea 
Ridge and moved eastward, his immediate objective 
point being West Plains, a village about sixty miles 
south of Rolla. To that point supplies were to be 
forwarded from Rolla, and then Arkansas was to be 
invaded by way of Bates ville. 

On the 14th of April, under orders to join the army 
column, the Fourth Iowa broke camp at Springfield 
and marched southward, on the Ozark road. The 



o 



6 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



weather liad grown milder. There were still occa- 
sional heavy rains, but the sun was shining, the air was 
balmy, the trees and grass were all in fresh green, the 
thousands of peach trees, in orchards and thickly 
scattered along the roads, were in the full wealth of 
their delicate bloom, and eveiy day the scene was one 
of charming beauty. On the 16th, General Curtis was 
met at Forsyth, where he at once ordered a " review " 
of this new regiment. Along the veiy muddy road, in 
a prolonged, ]30uring rain, the companies were drawn 
up in parade line; and the general and his large 
staff went splashing by at a gallop, both reviewers and 
reviewed being hidden in rubber ponchos and hardly 
able to see each other through the storm. That was 
the introduction to the army; and the work of the 
regiment was laid out at once. The same afternoon 
several detachments were made from it, and sent off in 
different directions southward, upon different errands. 
All of the detachments had hard night marches, and 
all returned to the column next day without reporting 
any important incident, except one. That was a detach- 
ment of about 150 men from Companies E, F, G, and 
K, commanded by Captain Drummond. It had the 
fortune to be the first of the regiment to be engaged 
with the rebels. Captain Drummond's command made 
part of a force of cavalry under Colonel McCrillis, of 
the Third Illinois, which was sent east and south 
toward White River, with orders to destroy the salt- 
petre works then operated by the rebels at different 
places along that stream, particularly near Talbot's 
Ferry. The company detachments were commanded, 
E by Lieutenant Perkins, F by Lieutenant Heacock, 
G by Captain Tullis, and K by Lieutenant Hart. 



MISSOURI AND ARKANSAS. 



After a marcli of one day, mucli of the time in heavy- 
rain, it was learned that work was going on at a nitre 
cave on the White, near the mouth of Little North 
Fork, eighteen miles farther south ; and Colonel Mc- 
Crillis sent Captain Drummond, with Companies G and 
K of the Fourth Iowa, to destroy the property. The 
march was made in the night, and was delayed by dark- 
ness and a succession of thunder-storms, but the end of 
it was reached soon after daylight, and the cave and 
works were seen on the face of the hill rising from the 
south bank of the river. The rebels holding the place 
showed themselves boldly, and indulged in very saucy 
remarks and invitations to " come over." There was 
no ford, the river was high, and they supposed them- 
selves safe. But Drummond's men found rowboats 
some miles up the river, brought them down, and, 
under cover of a fire from a part of the command on 
the bank, they crossed and destroyed the works and 
all property there, the enemy's guard running away 
after a slight skirmish. No one was hurt among 
Drummond's men, and he returned to the main column 
on the road on the 19th. 

The same day Colonel McCrillis sent Lieutenant 
Heacock, with his own company, in advance of the 
column, with orders to march rapidly upon Talbot's 
Ferry, on the White River, and seize the ferry. When 
he reached the place, Heacock found a company of 
armed " Butternuts " ^ stationed on the opposite bank, 
guarding the ferry-boat, which was moored there. 

' This was a name of good-natured contempt applied by Union soldiers 
to the countrymen of the Southwest. Almost without exception they wore 
clothes made of coarse homespun cloth, dyed by the women from the bark of 
the butternut tree. The color was a dirty yellow or faded brown, often an 
amusing complement to the sallow complexion and yellowish hair of the wearers. 



38 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

The " Butternuts " not appearing to be regular soldiers, 
Heacock held a parley with them, in the hope of getting 
the boat without a fight. Failing in that, and seeing 
that they considered themselves on the rebel side in 
the war, Heacock brought out his men and fired 
several volleys upon them. The fire was returned, 
and a ball struck Heacock in the forehead and killed 
him. Sergeant Chaney succeeded to the command, 
and retired his men, sending back a report to Colonel 
McCrillis. The other Fourth Iowa companies were 
then ordered forward under Captain Drummond, with 
a howitzer. Night coming on, Drummond went into 
camp, soon after he arrived at the ferry. The next 
morning the rebels were still posted on the opposite 
bank, and fire was opened upon them again, the 
howitzer being used with the small-arms. They were 
finally driven off. But now the river was greatly 
swollen, from the rains, and a crossing was deemed too 
dangerous, even with the boat. Colonel McCrillis 
therefore ended the expedition here, and, moving across 
the country eastward, rejoined the army at Rockbridge. 

Lieutenant Heacock's body was carried along to 
Vera Cruz, where it was buried. His death caused 
a great deal of feeling in the regiment. He was much 
admired for his fine, brave spirit, and he was the first 
man of the regiment killed in battle. His popularity, 
his courage, the pictures(pie scene and manner of his 
fall, and his being the first man killed, all contributed 
to make his death the most impressive of all that 
occurred in the regiment during the war. 

The army moved slowly eastward, the cavalry con- 
stantly active in front and on the flanks, until West 
Plains was reached. The rainy season was ended and 



MISSOURI AND ARKANSAS. 39 



the sun had become very hot. Many men fell ill. To 
the dreadful diarrhoea and dysentery, which had al- 
ready greatly enfeebled the new soldiers, was now 
added the more dreadful camp-fever. All available 
buildings at West Plains were turned into hospitals, 
and hundreds of the sick were left there. As the 
column moved on through the miasmatic swamps of 
Arkansas still more fell by the way. They were put 
into ambulances or empty wagons, or left at houses 
along the road. The mounted column of the regiment 
was diminished in number almost as if a plague had 
struck it. Some of the unfortunates died, and others 
were afterward discharged, disabled by the diseases 
contracted at this time. 

The regiment marched in the rear of the army to 
Batesville, by way of Mammoth Spring and Strawberry 
Plains. At the wonderful Mammoth Spring^ it en- 
camped one night, and had an exciting experience in 
its first night alarm. A horse frightened outside the 
camp had got loose and galloped down the road upon 
the picket-post. It was very dark, and the green 
picket naturally, if not properly, fired upon him. The 
shot was heard in camp, and at once it was imagined 
that the camp was attacked. The whole regiment was 
roused, and there was the wildest confusion of orders 
and movements. Horses were saddled and arms seized 
in a fever of excitement and with a great deal of noise. 
Each company commander formed his men on the spot 
that was nearest, and there were as many lines as com- 
panies. The buglers were ringing out half a dozen 

' A spring or group of springs rising in a round lake about a hundred yards 
across, very deep, and throwing out a large creek, never varying much in size, 
the water very pure and cold. 



40 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



different orders, and a hundred voices were bawling 
througli the woods, " Put out the fires ! — Put out the 
fii-es ! " 

But there was no enemy. The companies nearest the 
picket soon learned what had occurred. After half an 
hour of bewilderment and uproar, the horses were 
unsaddled and the men set about recovering their 
scattered and battered properties. 

There is a story that, in the beginning of the alarm, 
the Colonel, suddenly wakened and excited, called for 
"Tobe" (Bartmff, the Chief -Bugler). "Tobe" ap- 
peared, bugle in hand, and the Colonel cried, " Blow, 
Tobe, blow ! " without saying what order he should 
blow. " Tobe " stood a moment in embarrassment, 
and the Colonel shouted again, " Blow ! Why don't 
you blow ? " ^' But wliat shall I blow ? " cried the 
anxious trumpeter. The Colonel gasped for breath in 
his wrath until he could scream, " Blow f — blow your 
hugle, damn you ! " 

The regiment moved on toward Batesville, and 
reached that beautiful little town, on the White River, 
early in May. In the morning of the day it arrived, it 
was met in the road by a party of about forty men, 
mostly in " butternut " clothes, carrying the " Stars-and- 
Stripes." They said they were Union men, that they 
wanted to aid the Union cause, and that there were 
many Union men in that region who would never 
go into the rebel service. Such scenes are said to have 
been common during the first year of the war ; and, in 
fact, several regiments were enlisted for the Union 
army in Arkansas as M^ell as in other " seceded " 
States. 

Batesville, like West Plains, became a hospital. 



MISSOURI AND ARKANSAS. ax 



Large numbers of sick and debilitated men were left 
there, wliile tliose still fit for duty moved on to the 
Little Red River, on the way to Little Rock. 

General Curtis, finding the enemy at Searcy, a few 
miles beyond the Little Red, and believing that they 
meant to hold that place in force, halted his column. 
He occupied a line on the Little Red, and some de- 
tachments were sent to make a demonstration upon the 
rebel position. There was a little fighting beyond the 
river, between infantry, but the Union troops retired 
to the Little Red line; and the army remained there 
inactive for several weeks. The Fourth Iowa was on 
the right flank, near the river, and furnished detach- 
ments daily for scouting, reconnoitring, foraging, and 
guarding foraging trains. The most of these marches 
were made south of the river, which was crossed 
by fords, and several were made in force, all the 
available men of the regiment turning out with the 
other cavalry of the army. Small numbers of the 
rebel cavalry were seen at times, and occasionally a 
few shots were exchanged. On the 3d of June Com- 
pany C, under Captain Porter, was suddenly attacked 
by a body of rebel cavalry at a ford on the Little Red 
where it was posted as guard. The company broke up 
and dispersed at the first fire. Corporals Butcher and 
Browning were wounded and, with Private Murdock, 
captured. They were confined at Little Rock until 
August, when they were exchanged. 

General Curtis had expected to receive reinforce- 
ments and supplies from Memphis, by boats up the 
White River, but none came. Communication with 
Missouri could be broken any day, rations and forage 
were rapidly diminishing, and the surrounding country 



42 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



was already nearly stripped. Tlie long lists of sick 
and disabled were fast growing longer. The affair of 
Company C convinced Cui'tis that the enemy was ad- 
vancing upon him, and he decided to retire. The same 
day he began to fall back upon Batesville. The retreat 
was slow, the Fourth Iowa and the other cavalry being 
kept daily scouting back, to and across the Little Red, 
with one march of two days westward into the Salado 
Mountains ; and the army was not all behind the AYhite 
River, at Batesville, until the 11th. There it remained 
two weeks, engaged only in scraping together the rem- 
nants of food in the country within reach of the cavalry, 
and in the care of the large numbers of sick. At last, on 
the 24th of June, no relief appearing, and the condition 
of the army becoming alarming, the general began a 
movement down the east side of the White River, 
with the intention, if aid should not come by boats, 
to march across the country to the Mississipjji. 

Meantime Company F of the Fourth Iowa had an 
independent career. It was detached at Batesville, 
under Captain Winslow, about the middle of May, and 
placed in the service of Captain Banning, the Chief 
Commissary of the army. In this service the company 
was very actively employed in gathering provisions 
from the plantations, and in guarding the commissary 
trains and parties of men grinding at the mills in dif- 
ferent places. 

Its first capture was a steamboat loaded with sugar 
and molasses, which was taken without a fight on the 
"White River about twenty miles north of Batesville. 
Among other places visited was Calico Rock, which 
the company occupied for a day and a night, during 
which time it loaded about one hundred wagons with 



MISSOURI AND ARKANSAS. 43 



provisions seized there. On the way back to Bates- 
ville with this train, it was several times engaged in 
desultory firing with parties of rebels across the 
river. 

One day, the 7th of June, it was sent twenty miles 
up the south bank of the White, to bring away a de- 
tachment of infantry who were employed there in har- 
vesting wheat. The undertaking was thought to be 
very hazardous, as it was reported to General Curtis 
that a large force of rebel cavalry had appeared 
between the harvesters and the army. By a very 
rapid march the company reached the place and 
brought off the men, but on the way back it had a 
fight with a party of the enemy, whose numbers could 
not be ascertained because of the thick forest and 
underbrush in which they remained. Captain Wins- 
low charged into the wood, however, driving the rebels, 
and following as far as seemed prudent. In this aifair 
one of the company, Corporal John G. Carson, was 
mortally wounded, but no one else was struck. 

On the 14th of July, twelve men of the company, 
out on a foraging detail under Sergeant Curtiss, while 
loading their wagons at Gist's plantation, twenty 
miles west from Helena, were attacked by a detach- 
ment of a hundred mounted rebels under Lieut.-CoL 
Chappel. Curtiss' men were mounted on mules, and 
his three wagons were Just loaded with meat. He 
formed in line and received a charge with great pluck, 
but the mules behaved badly, and the little party was 
immediately broken up, with one killed, five wounded, 
and three of the wounded and two others captured.^ 
When the news reached Captain Winslow, he took all 
the remaining mounted men of his company, rode at 

' See Appendix : " Engagements and Casualties." 



44 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



higli speed to tlie place, overtook and attacked the 
rebels, and recaptured one of the wounded and all the 
wagons. The four other prisoners came into camp 
within a few days, released on parole, one of them, 
Sibley, very tenderly brought by a citizen in whose 
house he had been left wounded. It is remarkable 
that one of the men wounded in this affair (Sadler) 
was struck by five balls, and another (Sibley) by three. 
Sadler recovered, and served actively to the end of his 
term of enlistment, but Sibley was killed in another 
action before the wounds received in this were wholly 
healed. 

The company was not returned to the regiment 
when the army reached Helena, but was kept on 
special service in that town, under the successive com- 
manding generals there, first in the commissary depart- 
ment and afterward upon provost duty, until the 
I'egiment was ordered into the Vicksburg campaign, in 
April, 1863. During this service it was in a camp of 
its own, just west of Helena, at the foot of the bluifs. 

The longest march made by any of the regiment up 
to this time, aj)art from the march of the army, was 
made by Companies A and M under Captain Rector. 
A very long train of wagons, ambulances, and car- 
riages, filled with the sick and disabled, was sent from 
Batesville to Salem, Mo., and these companies were 
sent as a guard. They left Batesville June 11th, and 
I'eached Salem, vnthout any incident of note, after four 
days' steady marching. On the 16th they set out to 
return, guarding a train carrying supplies, and were 
again four days on the road. 

The movement of the army down the White was 
very slow, the great heat, the constant search for food 



MISSOURI AND ARKANSAS. 45 

and forage, and the large numbei's of sick in wagons 
and ambulances, making any speed impracticable. 
The enemy added what obstacles he could in indus- 
triously blocking the roads by felling the very heavy 
timber across them. The Fourth Iowa Cavalry 
marched in the rear. On the 4th of July there was a 
halt at Jacksonport. There had been a hope that the 
relief boats from Memphis would get up as far as that 
town, but the only boat found there was in the service 
of the rebels. It was taken and burnt. General 
Curtis sent a detachment rapidly to Des Arcs, fifty 
miles farther down the river, upon a last hope of find- 
ing boats there. One day too late ! Halleck had sent 
boats and troops to aid Curtis against Little Rock, but, 
getting no news of him, they had steamed away the 
day before. 

Meantime the main column dragged along near the 
river until the 7th of July, when a considerable force 
of the enemy, under General Matlock, attempted to 
prevent further progress. This was at the River Cache, 
near a small town called Cottonplant. There was a 
sharply contested engagement, in which Colonel C. E. 
Hovey, with part of his brigade of infantry and a 
battalion of the First Indiana Cavalry, defeated the 
rebels and drove them to a considerable distance. 

General Curtis, much disappointed by his failure to 
join with the fleet, now prepared for a forced march to 
the Mississippi, at Helena. The wagons were permitted 
to haul only commissary supplies, sick men, and ammu- 
nition. All other property theretofore carried in the 
wagons was destroyed, including a large quantity of 
cavalry saddles and equipments, which had accumu- 
lated through the disabling of men and horses. 



46 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

The troops were forbidden to carry anything not 
absolutely necessary. The wounded and sick filled 
all the ambulances, a large part of the wagons, and 
many carriages taken from the plantations, and con- 
stituted much the greater part of the train. 

Then, on the 10th of July, moving by way of Clar- 
endon, and there turning eastward, the column 
marched as fast as possible toward Helena. The in- 
tense heat, the enfeebled condition of the men, and the 
cumbrous train of the disabled, prevented any haste ; 
but a picked body of infantiy, sent ahead, found the 
way clear, and reached Helena, sixty-five miles from 
Clarendon, on the 12th. The main column did not get 
in until the 15th. In the afternoon of that day the 
Fourth Iowa Cavalry was stopped at Witherspoon's 
plantation, about six miles west of Helena, on the 
Little Rock road ; and there went into camp. 

It was the end of the first campaign of the regiment. 
Four months before it had set out from St. Louis, and 
during the last three months it had been marching 
nearly all the time, in excessive rains, in excessive 
heat, and mostly in very unhealthful regions. It suf- 
fered greatly, in the illness of a large number and the 
enervation in a greater or less degree of all the others, 
death resulting on the march or later in many cases. 
The hardships of campaigning appeared to these new 
soldiers to be very real and very great ; and, as they 
could not see that anything was gained by the 
campaign, they were not only sick and weary, but 
discouraged. 



CHAPTER III. 



HELENA. 



Now began a different life and a long period of post 
service in Arkansas. More than eight months the 
regiment remained in camp at Helena, kept very busy, 
but always hoping and looking for the time when it 
would be assigned some important service in the field, 
of which the people of the North would hear. 

The time spent at Helena, while it was passing, 
seemed wasted ; but no doubt it was an experience of 
much value. It was certainly of value to the cause, 
-since Helena, in view of its commanding position, 
could not be left to the enemy ; and, in the long wait, 
the men learned at least patience and cheerfulness, and 
not a little of the art of fighting under command. 

The first camp of the regiment at Helena was on a 
very fine site, a piece of dry and gently rolling upland, 
covered by an open wood, mostly of splendid spread- 
ing beech trees. There could hardly have been found 
a better place in that region ; and the men liked it so 
well that they were very reluctant to leave it, as they 
had to do two or three months later. While at this 
place, the regiment was attached to the brigade of 
Colonel William Vandever, who had distinguished 
himself at Pea Ridge. This brigade comprised Colonel 
Vandever's own regiment, the Ninth Iowa Infantry, 



4S STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



one or two other regiments of infantry, and one Iowa 
battery. 

Tlie duty done during this period was picketing on 
the roads west, north, and south ; many scouting expe- 
ditions, usually toward Little Rock, sometimes made 
within one day, sometimes occupying two or more 
days ; many foraging trips, and many marches in guard 
of wagon trains hauling corn or cotton from the inte- 
rior to Helena. Armed rebels were seen on these 
marches often enough to keep up the animated daily 
talk about them, and sometimes there was an exchange 
of shots. 

Considerable changes in the organization and mem- 
bership of the regiment occurred while it was at Helena. 
Under General Orders No. 126 of the War Department, 
A. G. O., 1862, issued under the act of Congress of 
July 17, 1862, all volunteer cavalry regiments were 
reorganized. In the Fourth Iowa Cavalry the result 
was the loss of many men and the return of others from 
official or special positions to the line or the ranks. 

The most marked feature of the reorganization was 
the discontinuance of the battalion staff and non-com- 
missioned staff. The three majors were retained and 
were still nominally in command of their respective 
battalions, but they were not actively in command 
except during campaigns ; but of course they often 
succeeded to the command of the regiment in the ab- 
sence of their superior officers. Their adjutants, 
(|uartermastei's, commissaries, and non-commissioned 
assistants disappeared, some of them accepting the 
offered muster-out and others returning to the compa- 
nies from which they had come. At the same time, 
however, the regimental staff and non-commissioned 



HELENA. 49 

staff were somewhat increased. There were added a 
Commissary, two Hospital-Stewards, and a Saddler- 
Sergeant, who were to do the work of the nine corre- 
sponding battalion officers. The Kegimental Band 
was mustered out, the purpose being to allow only one 
band to a division. The leader and some of the band- 
men accepted a muster-out, while others returned to 
the ranks in their several companies. 

The beneficial effects of this reorganization were seen 
and felt at once. The companies were brought into 
direct relations with the regimental officers, the in- 
cessant petty difficulties arising from a division of 
responsibility were greatly diminished, and the field- 
and-staff was reduced from its unwieldy size to a force 
comparatively small and quickly felt. 

Nobody was hurt in the regiment while at Helena 
until the 20th of September, when a picket-post near 
Polk's plantation on the Little Rock road, held by 
a detail of eight men from Company D, was at- 
tacked. The pickets were, of course, dismounted, 
their horses being kept in their rear. The rebels were 
mounted, but they got near the post without being 
discovered. Then they rode directly upon the pickets, 
firing as they came, killing one, wounding one, and 
capturing the wounded man with two others.^ The 
remaining four escaped to the camp. A detachment, 
under Lieutenant Abraham, of D, was at once sent out 
in pursuit of the rebels, but they were not found. 

On the 30th of September a party of rebel cavalry 
cut off two men of Company M from a picket-post, and 
captured them. All of these captured pickets were ex- 
changed, and returned to service in November following. 

' See Appendix : " Engagements and Casualties." 
4 



so STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

About the first of October the force at Helena was 
much reduced, and Vandever and his infantry were 
taken away. The camp of the Fourth Iowa was then 
placed about two miles nearer the town, though still 
on the Little Rock road. The site of this camp was 
not so good as that of the last, the ground being steep 
little hills, thickly wooded ; but it was well drained, 
and the trees were conveniently at hand when the 
building of winter cabins became necessary. 
I Two other cavalry regiments, the Fifth Kansas and 
the Ninth Illinois, were encamped near ; but there 
does not appear to have been a brigade organization, 
nor any authority standing between the commanding 
officer of the Fourth Iowa and the general in command 
at Helena, until early in 1863, when Colonel Powell 
Clayton, of the Fifth Kansas, was placed in command 
of all the cavalry. 

On the 11th of October a costly lesson in war 
was learned in the Fourth Iowa. Early that morning 
Major Rector went out on the Little Rock road with a 
detachment from companies A, G, and H, numbering 
about fifty in all, on a scout. The detachment marched 
fifteen miles or more into the country, without meeting 
the enemy, and then returned. Late in the afternoon, 
just after crossing Lick Creek, within three miles of 
the camp, it was suddenly attacked by a much larger 
body of rebels, the Twenty-first Texas Cavalry, under 
Lieutenant-Colonel Giddings. Rector's men, having 
seen no rebels farther out during the day, and being 
now on familiar ground, approaching the camp, took it 
for granted that there was no longer any occasion for 
care. They were in a lane about one fourth of a mile 
long, with fences on both sides, and were marching 



HELENA. 51 



at ease, stretched out and in bad order, careless of 
danger. From the place the engagement is usually 
called "Jones' Lane," though it appears in some re- 
ports as " Lick Creek." The column had entered the 
lane from a wood at the western end, and its head had 
nearly reached the eastern end when the attack was 
made upon its rear. It was altogether in a position as 
nearly unfit for fighting in an emergency as could well 
have been contrived. The attack was a complete 
surprise, and the men were at once disordered and 
frightened, but Major Rector was a brave man, and 
always acted in an earnest spirit. He rode back to the 
rear, trying to get the men into their places, and 
ordered the column, left in front, back through the 
lane, apparently with only a general purpose to move 
toward the enemy. He could not have known how 
many there were. Some had rushed down the lane 
upon his rear, but others, it might be a large number, 
were still in the woods. 

His movement placed him at every disadvantage. 
He was hemmed in by the fences, his men confused 
and irresolute, and the enemy of unknown strength 
and sheltered by the wood. The advanced rebels fell 
back before him, but his little column had hardly 
reached the west end of the lane, still in bad order, 
when it was fiercely charged by at least double its own 
number, and was quickly broken to pieces and driven 
from the field. Three men, all in G, were killed, two 
were wounded, one mortally, and fifteen were captured.^ 
Major Rector was captured. Private John W. Allen, 
of A, was among those taken, but he was afterward 
killed, barbarously, for refusing to run with his cap- 
tors ; for the rebels were attacked and defeated, almost 

* See Appendix : " Engagements and Casualties." 



52 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

immediately after their success, by anotlier detachment 
of the Fourth Iowa. 

The noise of Kector's engagement was heard by 
Lieutenant Parsons of Company B, who had been 
sent out the same morning with forty men of his com- 
pany on the Marianna road. He, too, was returning to 
camp without any incident to report. On hearing the 
firing, he moved his command at once and in quick time 
in the direction of the sound, and came upon the scene 
just after the capture. Indeed, more of Rector's men 
would have been lost if he had not appeared. He 
immediately charged upon the rebels, boldly and in 
good order. Although his force was smaller than 
Rector's and much smaller than Giddings', the sud- 
denness and assurance of his attack brought the success 
they so often bring in cavalry fighting. The rebels 
were broken as easily as they had broken Rector's men. 
Several of them were killed and wounded, and in a few 
minutes Giddings and eleven of his men were prisoners 
in Parsons' hands. The remainder retreated rapidly 
on the Little Rock road, their prisoners being kept 
running ahead. Parsons thought it imprudent to fol- 
low. His loss was four wounded, including himself, 
and two captured.^ 

When the news reached camp it was dark and pursuit 
was not practicable. At daybreak, however, a large 
part of the regiment was on the road, marching very 
fast toward Little Rock. Late in the afternoon, the 
enemy not having been overtaken and it being thought 
dangerous to venture farther with so small a force, the 
pursuit was given up. 

If Rector had been prepared to meet an enemy at any 
time ; if he had been moving in order, with rear-guard 

' See Appendix : " Engagements and Casualties." 



HELENA. 53 



well out ; if, when first attacked, he had moved on east- 
ward, through the lane, and posted himself beyond it, 
and there awaited further attack; if, even after he 
decided to return, left in front, he had managed to 
keep his men in order and had forced them, at all haz- 
ards, into or through the rebel line, the result would 
have been very different. If Rector had lacked courage 
or mental ability, the disaster might have been charged 
to his weakness ; but as he possessed both qualities, and 
evidently tried to do what at the instant seemed to him 
the right thing, the incident provoked much discussion. 
The other officers noted its points for future use, and 
the lesson must have been of much value. 

The prompt action and substantial success of Parsons 
gave him, deservedly, great credit. The captured men 
were all paroled at Little Kock about ten days after 
their capture, and then returned to the camp at 
Helena. They were formally exchanged and restored 
to service the' first of the following December. 

John Allen well deserves a word more than the 
mention of his death. He was a man of rare merits. 
He was highly distinguished for his courage and zeal 
as a soldier, his intelligence and ready judgment, the 
purity of his life, and his transparent frankness and 
unfailing courtesy. He was very popular, but it was a 
popularity combined with great respect. He would 
inevitably have become a power in his company and 
regiment if he had lived. 

Some amusing incidents are told of the rout of Rec- 
tor's command. Many of the horses were disabled in 
the first volleys, and no doubt all the captured were 
taken after they were dismounted. But at least one 
of the dismounted escaped capture. He was a man of 



54 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

A, who often furnished fun for his comrades without 
intending it. His luck in getting into ridiculous posi- 
tions was extraordinary, and never left him. He did 
not permit this opportunity to go unimj)roved. He 
was a short, stout man, his form presenting several 
great projections. When he lost his horse he went 
lumbering down the lane afoot, while the rebels were 
engaged with the others behind him, till he came to a 
gutter or culvert across the road. It was covered by 
a couple of planks, laid the length of the gutter and 
supported by short cross-pieces under the ends, so that 
by the weight of horses or wagons they were bent 
down in the middle. The frightened fugitive no 
sooner saw the hole under the planks than he thought 
it a good place for hiding, and crawled in. But the 
space was shallow for a man of his thickness, and 
while his front was on the ground his rear was against 
the planks. Hardly had he got into position when 
the rebels came galloping down the lane in pursuit. 
They rode over the little bridge with a clatter that 
must have seemed to him endless, and every horse 
struck the planks wdth a thump upon the protuberant 
portions of his body. There was no turning around, 
there was no getting out, unless to be killed or cap- 
tured. Each thump w^as worse than the one before, 
but at last, when he thought he was nearly dead, the 
riding ceased, and he tried to recover his breath. But 
then, driven by Parsons' charge, many of the rebels 
rode back again, and pounded more trouble into the 
unhappy fellow. His torture seemed endless, but the 
time did come when the fighting was all over. He 
heard nothing more, but he was awfully battered, the 
situation outside was uncertain, and he remained in 



HELENA. 55 



his hole. Night came at last, to the relief of his mind, 
if not of his body, and the jellied trooper crawled out 
and lay in the weeds, in a field near by, until morning. 
Tribulation is visited upon the innocent as well as 
upon the sinful in this weary world, and sometimes it 
is dreadfully painful and laid on in unreasonable 
quantity. The sufferer found each inch of his flesh 
more tender than any other, and when he was discov- 
ered and helped to camp, it appeared to his rescuers, 
as well as to himself, that he had borne the brunt of 
the battle. 

On the 2 2d of October another bold attack was 
made by the enemy within a few miles of the cavalry 
camp. This time it was the Fifth Kansas that suf- 
fered, losing a number of men and a large ^vagon-train 
filled with forage which they were bringing in. The 
Fourth Iowa, with the other cavalry regiments, was 
turned out at once, and marched all that night and the 
next day in pursuit of the rebels, without overtaking 
them. Camp was reached again on the 25th, men and 
horses worn out with the long labor and loss of sleep. 

On the 8th of November Captain Peters, of B, 
with one hundred men of Companies B, D, H, and L, 
had two sharp encounters with rebel cavalry. This 
detachment was leading a column of six hundred 
cavalry, under Captain Marland L. Perkins, of the 
Ninth Illinois, part of a force with which Colonel 
William Vandever had been reconnoitring: near Clareu- 
don. At Marianna a hundred rebels held the road. 
Under orders, Peters dashed at them, mounted, and 
quickly routed them, only losing three wounded. 
Later, approaching Lagrange, he was suddenly attacked 
by a larger body. At once the Fourth Iowa charged 



56 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

again, and routed the rebels, this time losing nineteen 
wounded/ The rebels lost in both fights seven killed 
(also reported seventeen), fourteen captured, and many- 
wounded. The Fourth Iowa wounded included Cap- 
tain Peters, Lieutenants Beckwith, Tucker, Fitch, and 
Groesbeck, and Corporal Charles W. Sisson, the last of 
whom afterward died of his wound. Peters and his 
men were highly praised for their spirited action. 

Ten days later an expedition in force was begun 
against Arkansas Post, under General A. P. Hovey, 
and the troops were taken mostly or wholly from 
Helena. " The Post of Arkansas," more commonly 
called Arkansas Post, was an important position on 
the Arkansas River, about twenty miles from its mouth. 
It was then being strengthened by the enemy. They 
had already finished and equipped a heavy fort there, 
and were extending the works. The value of the 
position was, not only that it defended Little Rock 
against any advance up the Arkansas, but that it 
served as a retreat and i-endezvous for the rebel gun- 
boats operating on the Mississippi. 

General Hovey was to move his troops on steam- 
boats down the Mississippi and up the White River, 
and thence, through the Cut-oft', into the Arkansas, 
thus reaching the rear of the enemy's position. The 
"Cut-off" is a stream or channel which connects the 
Arkansas and White, some fifteen miles up from the 
mouth of the White, where the two rivers are about 
six miles apart. It is navigable for small steamboats 
at a good stage of water. 

There were about two thousand cavalry from Helena, 
under Colonel Bussey of the Third Iowa. The Fourth 

' See Appendix : " Engagements and Casualties." 



HELENA. 57 



Iowa furnished four hundred, under Major Spearman. 
The troops went from Helena on many boats, November 
18th, and on the second morning reached the mouth of 
the White, but the water on the bar there was found to 
be too low. The cavahy boats were then sent up the 
Mississippi twenty miles, to Montgomery's Point on 
the Arkansas side, with orders to land there and march 
across the country to the Cut-off, while the infantry was 
expected, with smaller boats, to work its way over the 
bar. The same day, accordingly, the cavalry landed at 
the place designated, and marched through dense forests, 
on very low ground,* directly toward the White River 
end of the Cut-off. The expectation was that the boats 
which would bring the infantry up the White would 
ferry the cavalry over. The bank of the White was 
reached without incident, after a march of about fifteen 
miles, but no sign of boats or infantry appeared. A 
rebel picket-post was observed on the opposite bank, 
with a rowboat and a flatboat in the w^ater. A shell 
was thrown over from a small howitzer, and then a 
soldier paddled across on a log and brought back the 
rowboat. With this a number of men went over and 
towed back the flatboat. The command meantime lay 
near the river waiting, while a small party was sent 
down the east bank to look for Hovey's steamboats. 
Night came on, and soon after a heavy rain began to 
fall. The land upon which the cavalry was bivouacked 
was a mere basin, that along the bank of the White 
and toward the Mississippi being higher, and it was 
the midst of a dense forest extending many miles on all 
sides. As the rain increased the water rose around the 
campers, and before daybreak it had spread so far that 

' The water-stains on the trees in this forest, caused by the overflows of the 
Mississippi, were seen twenty feet or more above the ground. 



S8 STOR Y OF A CA VALR V REGIMENT. 

there was no place left upon which to lie. The night 
was intensely dark, and the rain poured steadily. The 
men were all driven out of their blankets by rising 
water. Those w^ho could not find a stump or log took 
to the narrow strip of land immediately by the river. 
The water covered all the camp-ground. The saddles 
and equipments were placed on the horses. Of course 
there was no more sleeping or lying down. It was 
thought dangerous to try to move the command out of 
such a place in the thick darkness. The men could 
only watch the water as it rose, and try to keep out of 
it. So the last hours of the night passed. When day- 
light came the rising had ceased, but the whole camp 
was seen to be a lake, the water in some parts of it 
several feet deep. 

Meantime news had come that the infantry had failed 
to get into the White Kiver, because of the bar, with an 
order for the return of the cavalry. The horses were 
saddled in the water, and had to wade in water and 
mud some miles, to the higher ground toward Mont- 
gomery's Point. Of course under the water the soft 
alluvial soil was easily penetrated, and the horses often 
sunk to the girth. The struggle was hard and slow, 
and it took the whole day to reach Montgomery's Point. 
The cavalry went on the boats that night, and steamed 
up the river, reaching Helena and returning to camp 
on the 25th. The expedition was wholly abandoned, 
and Arkansas Post remained in the possession of the 
enemy until it was taken by McClernand and Sherman 
two months later. 

On the 26th of November the available men of the 
regiment were again ordered out as part of an expe- 
ditionary force under General A. P. Hovey, whose 



HELENA. 59 

orders from Grant were to move from Helena into tlie 
interior of Mississippi, to make a demonstration upon 
Grenada, and to destroy the railways near there. This 
was to be in aid of Grant's operations in northern Mis- 
sissippi, looking toward Vicksburg ; and the expedition 
is described in the chapter on Vicksburg. 

Grant and Sherman were now steadily, if slowly, 
moving toward that great object of the war in the 
Mississippi valley, the capture of Vicksburg. Indeed, 
while the cavalry was marching on the expedition last 
referred to, Sherman's divisions were floating down the 
great river, — on their way, as it proved, to a bloody 
failure at Chickasaw Bluffs. 

In collecting troops for that movement Sherman took 
some infantry from Helena. His plan of operation did 
not require the use of cavalry, and the several regiments 
of that arm at Helena, including the Fourth Iowa, 
were left there. But these regiments were not enough 
to hold the long lines which had been maintained while 
there was a large force at Helena, and the lines were 
accordingly much contracted. The cavalry was moved 
in from the outlying hills, where for some five months 
it had been pleasantly encamped, and was cantoned 
near the river. Indeed, the Fourth Iowa lay between 
the levee and the river. The river was very high and 
the weather was rainy, so that the place became ex- 
tremely muddy and uncomfortable. The men were 
greatly disgusted. If they must stay at Helena — and 
they were much averse to doing so while the rest of 
the army was moving against Vicksburg, — they wanted 
to be on the well-drained hills among the trees. In 
this low and unsheltered camp on the river bank much 
severe illness soon appeared. There were several deaths^ 



6o STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

among them those of Major Rector and Captain Tullis. 
The number of the sick and the deaths increased until, 
at last, after much importunity, about the middle of 
January, the cavalry was permitted to return to the 
hills. There was great rejoicing ; the men would rather 
risk their lives with the enemy on the outer lines than 
with disease in that wretched canton. 

The regiment was now (January, 1863), in army 
organization, a part of the Second Brigade, Second 
Oavalry Division, Thirteenth Army Corps, Army of 
the Tennessee. It was in the District of Eastern 
Arkansas, commanded by Maj.-Gen. Benjamin M. 
Prentiss, the cavalry division being immediately under 
Brig.-Gen. Cadwallader C. Washburn. But, so far as 
the men could see, the regiment was independent, the 
corps and division headquarters being at Memphis, and 
the brigade organization rarely appearing in actual 
service. It was six months later when they first 
learned, practically, what it was to be part of an 
organized body of cavalry. 

The regiment was kept at hard work. The force at 
Helena being small, and the camp at some distance 
from the town, picket, patrol, escort, and other guard 
duty, came round frequently. Somehow, too, there was 
a great deal of " fatigue " duty in the service of the 
quartermasters and commissaries at Helena ; and the 
cavalrymen were convinced there must be something 
wrong when the infantrymen quartered in the town 
were not required to do it all. On the other hand, the 
average infantryman, who seems himself to be rather 
fond of bearing burdens, is penetrated v^dth the belief 
that a cavalryman will not work if any way of escape 
can be contrived. He is persuaded that the horseman 



HELENA. '61 

habitually resorts to untruthful devices in his desire to 
shirk ; and he is given to repeating the time-worn jeer 
(provided the cavalryman is a-foot and at a safe dis- 
tance), " Soldier, will you work ? — No, I '11 sell my 
shirt first ! " 

It was at Helena and about this time that the 
regiment first served directly with the Third Iowa 
Cavalry, a part of which was then there. From that 
time until the end of the war, excepting one or two 
short periods, these two regiments were closely con- 
nected. They were almost always in the same brigade 
and on the same campaigns. The men became attached 
to each other, and each regiment was proud of the fame 
of the other. They marched and fought and suffered 
together, and together they re-enlisted as " Veterans." 
During the last two years of the war they shared all 
honors. Sometimes one and sometimes the other was 
first in battle, as the order of the column might require ; 
but it was never long until both were in the fire to- 
gether. And together they marched, in battle column, 
ready for one more charge, on the morning of April 
21, 1865, when they were stopped by that cry that 
thrilled every soul, — ^'■The war is ended! " The brave 
Third Iowa ! It scoured the Confederacy .rom Kansas 
to the Atlantic, and in every State in ics way lie its 
dead and the dead of its enemies. 

On the 20th of February, 1863, a force of four 
hundred mounted and three hundred dismounted 
cavalry, two hundred of the mounted being Fourth 
Iowa men, went out to Smizer's farm, six miles from 
Helena, under Major Winslow, with one hundred and 
twenty-five wagons, which were there loaded with corn 
and brought in. 



62 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

On the Sth of March, a detachment of two hundred 
and fifty men of the Fourth Iowa, commanded by Major 
Spearman, forming part of a column under Major 
Walker, of the Fifth Kansas Cavalry, on a similar 
expedition, had a skirmish with the rebels at Big 
Creek, about ten miles west of Helena. The creek 
was impassable, and the enemy were on the opposite 
side. Private Benoni F. Kellogg, of L, a popular 
soldier was killed, but no one else was struck. Kel- 
logg's comrades, unwilling to leave his body, lashed it 
to one of the " Woodruff " guns, and so brought it into 
camp, where they buried it with honors. 

The Woodruff guns were three small iron pieces, 
throwing a two-pound solid shot, which about this 
time in some way came into the hands of the regiment. 
They were placed in charge of Private " Cy " Wash- 
burn, of B, who had a few men detailed to assist him. 
They were of no value, and were generally voted a 
nuisance. They were never known to hit anything, 
and never served any useful purpose, except in promot- 
ing cheerfulness in the regiment. The men were never 
tired of making jokes and teasing Washburn about 
them ; but he was proud of his artillery, and thirsted 
for an opportunity to justify its existence. When the 
regiment left Helena he was not permitted to take it 
along with him ; but he pined for a gun, and in the 
Vicksburg campaign he was given a small brass piece, 
captured at Jackson, upon which he organized another 
"batteiy" and considered himself handsomely pro- 
moted. An opportunity for glory came suddenly one 
fine day, but before it could be fully achieved the 
unfeeling rebels carried off Washburn, battery and 
all. 



HELENA. di 

It was about this time that carbines were first issued 
to the regiment. Only forty could be obtained, and 
they were divided among several companies. They 
were " Hall " carbines, an inferior gun of short range, 
taking a paper cartridge ; but they were breech-loaders, 
and their coming was a thing of great interest to the 
men. Those who did not receive them en\'ied those 
who did. It was soon found, however, to be a dis- 
tinction not altogether desirable ; the carbine men were 
called to the front whenever there was a fight on hand. 

The armament of the regiment in general was still 
very poor. A few men who had Colt's navy revolvers 
were the envy of their comrades, who had to put up 
with weapons in which they had no confidence. The 
clumsy Austrian (infantry) rifles, issued when the regi- 
ment was first equipped, were still in the hands of 
those men who had not had the hardihood or ingenuity 
to " lose " them. Some had revolvers of the Stan* 
and other bad kinds, many had the single-barrelled 
holster-pistols, with ramrods, of the pattern in use in 
the Mexican war, while all had the awkwardly long 
and very heavy dragoon sabre, as old as the century. 
Every man saw and, what was much wovQe,felt the in- 
efficiency of the arms. 

Early in April it was reported that a considerable 
body of rebels was collected at Wittsburg on the St. 
Francis River, about a hundred miles northwest from 
Helena, and that they had steamboats there. General 
Gorman, then commanding at Helena, ordered out a 
force of about seven hundred men, under Colonel 
Powell Clayton, of the Fifth Kansas Cavalry, to move 
upon the rebels and break up their rendezvous. There 
were four hundred cavalry, immediately commanded 



64 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



by Major Winslow, detailed from the Third and 
Fourth Iowa, Fifth Kansas, and Ninth Illinois. With 
the cavalry were sent two small howitzers. All the 
troops were embarked on the steamboats Black Hawh, 
Horizo7i, Frank Steele^ and Alone., the night of the 5th 
of April ; and the boats immediately steamed up the 
St. Francis, to a landing some distance south of Witts- 
burg. The cavalry was landed there, and marched 
toward Wittsburg. On the way, after dark, it was 
attacked by a party of rebels in ambush. They were 
driven out by a charge, but still fought obstinately for 
a time. There was no great number, however, and 
they were defeated by the advanced companies ; and 
the march to Wittsburg was completed. But no other 
force of the enemy was found there, nor any steam- 
boats. Colonel Clayton ordered a return to Helena, 
which the cavalry accomplished by land, the infantry 
remaining on the boats. In this expedition the cavalry 
marched, in three days, one hundred and thirty miles. 

The loss of the Fourth Iowa in this affair was one 
killed and seven wounded, all from Company L, the 
" carbinemen " at the front. All the wounded were 
brought back to Helena. One of them, Private George 
W. Sheppard, had received four wounds, caused by 
three different bullets.^ 

Thus the winter and part of the spring was em- 
ployed, — in guarding, fatigue-duty, scouting, reconnoi- 
tring, with some fighting. It was very active, but 
seemed of little use to the cause. The men were all 
the time gaining ex]3erience, however, and always 
hoping they would yet have a hand in the taking of 
Vicksburg. And that day came. 

' See Appendix : " Engagements and Casualties." 



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CHAPTER IV. 



VICKSEURG. 



In the spring of 1863 Vicksburg was the most dis- 
tinct of the objects of attack of the Union armies, and 
it was one of the most important and difficult. It was 
of very great value to the Confederacy, both commer- 
cially and strategically. It occupied the first high 
ground on the Mississippi below Memphis, and it was 
the only place in the South where the river was 
reached by railways on both sides. It was the chief 
gateway for supplies for the Confederate armies from 
their vast and rich " Trans-Mississippi Department." 
In its fall that department would be lost, and in all the 
remainder of the Confederacy that loss could not be 
made good. At the same time its possession was abso- 
lutely essential to the cause of the North, because it 
controlled the natural commercial outlet of all the 
States between the Rocky Mountains and the Alle- 
ghanies. 

With infinite labor, and great sacrifice of life and 
money, the Union armies had tried to reach the posi- 
tion. Several different plans, under different generals, 
had successively slowly worked their way to failure. 
Nothing had been gained but experience. It is easy 
now to see that the place might have been taken, by 
comparatively small efforts, at any time before the 
autumn of 1862. The Secessionists had assumed that 

5 65 



66 SrOAV OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



a Union aiiuy conld never get so far south ; and they 
seem to have had no great apj)rehension of the success 
of any movement up the river from New Orleans. So 
until August, 1862, the defense of Vicksburg had been 
provided for only by inferior earthworks, Avith light 
armament, held by troops never more than a few thou- 
sands in number. In May of that year the forces sent 
against it from New Orleans, under General Williams 
and Admiral Farragut, might have succeeded. Farra- 
gut himself seems to have been of that opinion ; and 
Sherman thought it would have been easy to make the 
whole river ours that summer. In June, Greneral Hal- 
leck could have taken it, by a campaign on the lines of 
the Mississippi Central railway and the Yazoo River. 
Although the defenses were strengthened in July, the 
addition of ten thousand men to the force with which, 
in that month. General Williams and Admiral Farra- 
gut made their second attempt from the south, would 
have insured success. In August it was the only posi- 
tion occupied by the rebels on the whole length of the 
Mississippi. The armies under Halleck and the fleet 
under Ellet had captured or occupied eveiy post of 
any strategic importance above, and Butler and Farra- 
gut controlled every point below. 

But opportunities were lost, and in the fatal delay 
that followed the rebels not only greatly increased and 
improved their fortifications and organized an adequate 
defending force, but they recovered all of the river be- 
tween Helena and Baton Kouge, erecting and manning 
earthworks and batteries at all commanding points be- 
tween those places, as well as the strong fort at Arkan- 
sas Post already described.^ 

' At page 56. 



VICKSBURG. 67 



In October, Halleck -having been called to Washing- 
ton to act as General-in-Chief of the armies, Grant was 
practically in command of the forces holding the great 
river above Helena ; but he was without instructions 
for future operations. His orders still came from Hal- 
leck, but no movement was ordered or proposed. His 
army was then in northern Mississippi, near Corinth, 
inactive. Early in November, apparently upon his 
own responsibility, he ordered an advance from Grand 
Junction and Corinth, intending to occupy Holly 
Springs and Grenada. Although this movement does 
not appear to have been made as part of a distinct 
campaign against Vicksburg, it nevertheless was the 
first step upon the line upon which Grant thought that 
Vicksburg should be reached. Halleck gave his ap- 
proval of the movement in a vague way, in meagre des- 
patches ; but stopped it when the advance had reached 
Holly Springs, by telegraphing that reinforcements to 
the number of twenty thousand were being forwarded. 
If these reinforcements had been sent, or if Grant had 
been permitted to proceed with the force he had, Vicks- 
burg might have been taken six months earlier than it 
was, and at a cost vastly less than that which was 
afterward required. 

While Grant was waiting for the promised troops, 
Halleck telegraphed him that Memphis would be made 
the depot of a joint military and naval expedition 
against Vicksburg. This was the first intimation to 
Grant of an entirely new plan. He was much puzzled, 
but explanation came in succeeding events. That 
noisy, ambitious, "political" general, McClernand, of 
Illinois, had left the division he commanded in Grant's 
army and gone to Washington. He was willing to 



68 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



place at the disposal of the War Department the 
whole of his military genius, and would accept a posi- 
tion in which that genius would be unrestricted. He 
succeeded in inducing Lincoln and Stanton to author- 
ize him to raise new troops in Illinois, Iowa, and 
Indiana, to be commanded by himself for an indepen- 
dent campaign against Vicksburg ! ^ He would 
quickly clear the Mississippi and open the way to New 
Orleans ! There was nothing small in McClernand's 
plans. It is most difficult now to realize the fact that 
the President and the Secretary of War were actually 
supporting and urging on two independent generals in 
the field, carrying on independent campaigns at the 
same time and with the same objective, the one ham- 
pered and restricted incessantly by the despatches of the 
General-in-Chief at Washington, while the other dealt 
directly with the Secretary of War upon a wholly dif- 
ferent plan of operation ! History records some mili- 
tary ideas that have made the judicious grieve, but this 
amazing piece of management must be unique. 

The situation was a very serious one to Grant when 
he was stopped at Holly Springs. He was not or- 
dered to Memphis ; his army was not taken from him ; 
nor was the movement he had begun countermanded. 
He determined to go on. He re-issued his order to 
Sherman to join him with the two divisions then at 
Memphis, and directed Curtis, at Helena, to send a 
force across the country eastward, to threaten Grenada. 
But Halleck then again interfered, with an order to 
Sherman directing him to hold at Memphis a consider- 
able part of his troops. There was no order issued to 

' By an order of the Secretary of War, dated October 21, 1862, approved by 
the President, McClernand's army was to be called the " Army of the Missis- 
sippi," Grant's being the " Army of the Tennessee." 



VICKSBURG. 69 



Grant, however, and he pushed on, occupying Holly 
Springs in force, and marching toward Grrenada. 

This movement was begun when the troops who 
had gone on the expedition mth General Hovey 
against Arkansas Post, as already mentioned/ were on 
their way back to Helena. The next morning after 
they landed at Helena, November 26th, Hovey took 
them and all the other available troops at that post, 
infantry and cavalry, and crossed the river for the 
demonstration upon Grenada. Five or six regiments of 
cavalry, including the Fourth Iowa, were represented in 
detachments, numbering in all about two thousand, 
commanded by General C. C. Washburn. This force 
landed at Friar's Point, in Mississippi, a few miles 
below Helena, and marched toward Grenada, the 
cavalry all well in front, while Grant's column was 
slowly advancing below Holly Springs. The Helena 
cavalry had a very hard march through the worst 
of swamps and across several bayous and rivers ; but 
it reached and destroyed the railroad near Coffeeville 
and thence moved toward Grenada. It then marched 
northward, on the Memphis road, to Panola, and de- 
stroyed the railroad at that place. It returned by 
nearly the same route to Helena, exhausted by extra- 
ordinary labors and loss of sleep, though it was absent 
only a week. There was more or less skirmishing 
nearly every day, in some of which the Fourth Iowa 
was engaged, though without any loss. 

The work of this expedition appeared to the cavalry- 
men to be not of much value, though many good horses 
were captured and brought to camp, together with 
several hundred negro men, nearly all of whom 

' At page 56. 



70 STOR Y OF A CA VALR V REGIMENT. 

enlisted. But afterward it was learned tliat the 
expedition had caused great loss, sacrifice, and labor 
on the part of the rebels, General Pembei-ton having 
been made so apprehensive by it that he abandoned 
his whole line on the Tallahatchie, with important 
forts and works which he had just erected at different 
points upon that river, and retired to a new line on the 
Yallobusha, 

Grant moved on to Oxford, and learned that the 
enemy were at Grenada in force. Halleck still gave 
only a half-hearted supj)ort. He seemed to prefer a 
movement by the Mississippi River. Grant suggested 
holding his position in the interior and also sending a 
force down the Mississippi. Then Halleck ordered a 
part of the troops back from Oxford to Memphis, 
to be sent down the river. Finally, in December, 
he gave Grant authority to use his own judgment. 
This was substantially an authority to take charge 
of all operations against Vicksburg. Halleck had 
now at last committed himself ; but Grant knew 
that his preference was for a movement down the 
river, and as Halleck was his superior officer, he must 
have been influenced by that knowledge. He imme- 
diately consulted Sherman, and they agreed that Sher- 
man should take two divisions back to Memphis, 
collect all the troops he could there and at Helena, 
move down the river in steamboats, land at the mouth 
of the Yazoo, and get into the rear of Vicksburg; 
while Grant himself was to push along the Mississippi 
Central railway, and effect a junction with Sherman, 
if possible, between the Yazoo and Big Black rivers. 
Admiral Porter, with his gunboats, was to co-operate 
with Sherman's movement. 



VJCKSBURG. 71 



Upon reporting to Washington the orders given 
to execute this plan, Grant received from Halleck 
a message of approval, but he added, " The President 
may insist upon designating a sej^arate commander." 
McClernand was still at the North, absent from his 
post, working for an independent command. Grant 
pushed his preparations, however, in his persistent 
way, and Sherman was getting his army into order at 
Memphis. Another despatch from Halleck, a week 
later, stated that the President had ordered that 
McClernand should command the river movement. 
Grant sent the message at once to Sheniian at Mem- 
phis and to McClernand in Illinois. But that day the 
rebel General Forrest cut the telegraph line, and 
neither Sherman nor McClernand received the message. 
A few days later, on the 20th of December, Sherman 
left Memphis, with three divisions, infantiy and 
artillery, on steamboats, was joined by another divi- 
sion at Helena, and reached the mouth of the Yazoo 
on the 2 2d. 

But while Shemian was moving to the mouth of the 
Yazoo, the enemy, under Forrest and Van Dorn, were 
trying to cut oif Grant's communication with Memphis. 
They had complete success, Forrest on the Mobile <fe 
Ohio road and Van Dorn on the Mississippi Central ; 
and they destroyed a very large amount of army 
supplies. The country about Grant was exhausted, 
the armies of both sides having been drawing upon it 
for the greater part of a year, and he saw that he must 
retire. He sent a message to Sherman to that effect, 
but it was received too late to prevent Sheiman's 
attack. That great fighter landed his army on the 
south bank of the Yazoo, opposite the Walnut Hills, a 



72 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



few miles northeast of Vicksburg, made his famous 
assault upon the Chickasaw Bluffs, and failed. 

McClernand, who had not accomplished anything 
under his authority to raise a separate army in the 
Western States, now appeared and took command of all 
the forces about Vicksburg, under the " designation " 
referred to by Halleck, and in a few days moved up 
the Arkansas River against Arkansas Post. Sherman 
was second in command, and Admiral Porter's fleet 
was in support. The position, strongly fortified, was 
assaulted and taken. In this battle. Lieutenant S. 
Kirkwood Clark, Adjutant of the Twenty-fifth Iowa 
Infantry, a nephew of Groveruor Kirkwood of Iowa, 
formerly Second Lieutenant of Company A of the 
Fourth Iowa Cavalry, was severely wounded. He 
died of the wound after a short time. He was a very 
handsome and brilliant young officer, and extremely 
popular in the Fourth Cavalry. 

The next step in McClernand's plan of campaign was 
a movement far up the Arkansas River, intended to be 
a diversion in favor of the Union army in Missouri. 
His plan of operation against Vicksburg was very 
comprehensive. It was as if he were going to take 
Cairo by marching up the Missouri River. He actually 
had his troops well on the way, taking so many boats 
that Grant was seriously crippled by lack of transpor- 
tation, when Grant objected. Oddly enough, though 
Grant was carrying on a campaign of immense import- 
ance by way of the river, he had no comniand over 
troops or territory on the west bank. He now 
modestly advised the War Department that, whoever 
the commanding general might be, he ought to have 
power on both banks of the river. Sound advice that. 



VICKSBURG. 73 



Halleck at last telegraphed, extending Grant's com- 
mand over all troops and territory west of the river, so 
far as he might find advisable. This was about 
the middle of January. Grant immediately recalled 
McClernand and returned him to his proper place, 
the command of the Thirteenth Army Corps. By one 
of the many conflicting orders of the War Department 
in those days, McClernand had been assigned to that 
corps. 

The situation of the armies at that time, as well as 
Halleck's instruction, seemed necessarily to limit the 
advance upon Vicksburg to the river route. Grant 
collected all the troops he could in the Mississippi val- 
ley, put them into four army corps, the Thirteenth, 
Fifteenth, Sixteenth, and Seventeenth, and assigned to 
command them, respectively, Major-Generals McCler- 
nand, Sherman, Hurlbut, and McPherson. Hurlbut's 
corps was left at Memphis. The others were at Mili- 
ken's Bend and Young's Point, on the west bank of the 
Mississippi, about ten and twenty miles above Vicks- 
burg, and Grant was with them. The troops at Helena 
were ordered into McClernand's corps,, and so the 
Fourth Iowa Cavalry became at last an integral part of 
the army directly operating against Vicksbui'g. 

At the same time the famous series of canal opera- 
tions was in progress. Before Grant came down to 
Vicksburg he had ordered work to be resumed upon 
the canal across the peninsula in front of Vicksburg, 
undertaken by General Williams in his last campaign. 
He still clung to the idea that the best movement 
against Vicksburg was by laud from the Yazoo, turn- 
ing the enemy's right flank and getting into his rear ; 
but the water covered the lowlands along the Yazoo, 



74 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

and must be expected to cover them at any time for 
several months more. By the canal in front of Vicks- 
burg he intended to get his troops below the city, land 
on the east bank of the river, and reach the enemy's 
rear by his left flank. Vicksburg is on the southern 
side and near the eastern end of a long loop or bend 
of the river, the tongue of land in the loop being 
about six miles in length and three in width. This 
canal was cut across the base of the tongue, southeast- 
erly, so that its lower opening was almost directly west 
of the city. When Grant first came down from Mem- 
phis a great deal of work had been done upon this 
canal, but as soon as he saw it he thought it could not 
succeed. It had been expected that the river would^ 
when let in, wash out a deep channel. But early in 
March, when the digging was substantially done, there 
was a sudden high rise of the river. It ovei'flowed 
the land, burst the barriers, and filled the canal, but 
did not wash out a channel. Indeed, it partly filled the 
ditch with mud. It is remarkable that after the war 
the river of itself turned its course across this penin- 
sula, washed out its main channel there, near the line 
of this canal, but not including it ; and Vicksburg has 
been ever since upon a mere bayou, accessible only by 
small boats at high water. 

Having expected failure, however. Grant was already 
at work upon another plan. Indeed, he was at work 
upon two other routes at the same time. One of these 
was a canal by way of Yazoo Pass, a bayou in Missis- 
sippi nearly opposite Helena, about ten miles long, 
which connected the Mississippi, through Moon Lake, 
with the Coldwater River. The Coldwater is a tribu- 
tary of the Tallahatchie and the Tallahatchie a tribu- 



VICKSBURG. 75 



tary of tlie Yazoo. The engineers reported that the 
Pass could be improved without great difficulty, so as 
to admit boats of light draught. The plan was, to 
carry the troops on small steamboats through the Pass, 
thence down the Coldwater into the Tallahatchie, and 
down the latter into the Yazoo. If an army could be 
landed on the banks of the Yazoo, anywhere above 
Haines' Bluff, it could easily reach the enemy's rear, 
turning his right flank. The rivers named are tortu- 
ous, and the distance through them, from Helena to 
Vicksburg, on the route proposed, was about four hun- 
dred miles. After some engineering work, the Pass 
was found practicable, and in the latter part of Feb- 
ruary a large force, drawn from Helena and Lake 
Providence, was sent in under General Quinby, crowded 
into narrow stern-wheel steamboats. Quinby found 
the eastern end of the Pass obstructed by felled trees, 
but with patient toil (the stream being so narrow that 
every tree felled into it had to be cut into pieces and 
dragged out) he. got into the Coldwater, The same 
obstruction was steadily presented in that stream and 
in the Tallahatchie ; and it was only after immense 
labor that a small force, with a few boats, approached 
the mouth of the Yallobusha. The movement had 
been necessarily very slow, and the enemy had im- 
proved the opportunity by increasing the obstructions. 
To the difficulties of many felled trees they added a 
large raft, which blocked the stream, and placed a 
strong garrison in fortifications at the mouth of the 
Yallobusha. The surrounding country being swampy, 
much of it then under water, it was impossible to use 
any sufficient force against these defenses, and at the 
end of March the enterprise was abandoned. 



76 STOR Y OF A CA VALR V REGIMENT. 

The third attempt was made on the Lake Providence 
canal. Here was a large lake, near the northern line 
of Louisiana, filled by the overflow of the Mississippi. 
Its eastern end reached nearly to the river, and the 
western opened into Bayou Baxter, this bayou into the 
Bayou Ma§on, and the Magon into the River Tensas. 
The Tensas flows south, parallel with the Mississippi 
and about fifty miles M^est of it, and empties into the 
Ked Biver, not far from its mouth. This passage 
would have brought the army into the Mississippi 
some miles above Port Hudson, -whence it would have 
come up in boats to Grand Grulf, the place at which it 
finally did begin the flanking campaign against Vicks- 
l)urg. \\\ this plan the only work was to be upon a 
few miles of the Bayou Baxter, which required dred- 
ging and the removing of stumps under water. This 
was undertaken, but, for want of solid ground to work 
upon, progress was very slow ; and before the bayou 
Avas opened Grant had found it practicable to move by 
land. 

The fourth plan of flanking Vicksburg by water was 
that of Steele's Bayou. Here again was Grant's favor- 
ite idea of flanking the position by its northern side ; 
and at first the route appeared to be more practicable 
than any of the others. It was to be up the Yazoo 
River, from its mouth to Steele's Bayou, through that 
to Big Black Bayou, through that into Deer Creek, up 
Deer Creek to a bayou called Rolling Fork, through 
that to the Sunflower River, and down the Sunflower 
to the Yazoo. This ]-oute was over three hundred 
miles long, though its end was within some sixty miles 
of its beginning ; but in the space between was a reach 
of the Yazoo absolutely controlled by the enemy's 



VICKSBUKG. 77 



batteries on tlie highlands from Walnut Hills to 
Haines' Bluff. Not much work would be required to 
clear these streams for the passage of boats under 
ordinaiy circumstances, but the heavy timber on their 
banks provided ready means of obstruction. 

About the middle of March a fleet of gunboats was 
sent in under Admiral Porter, followed by troops on 
transports under Sherman. But the enemy had learned 
of the movement, and Porter found the Rolling Fork 
obstructed and a battery erected at its junction with 
the Sunflower. The battery opened upon him, as well 
as numerous sharpshooters, the latter being so effective 
that Porter's crew s could not woi'k his boats. Sherman 
came up Just in time to save the gunboats ; and he and 
Porter decided that the expedition must })e abandoned. 

Grant then went to examine the position at Haines' 
Bluff, ^vith the idea that he might try to take it by 
assault ; but he immediately decided that that could 
not be done, unless with very great sacrifice of life. 
He now gave up all hope of turning the enemy's right, 
and set to work to find a way southward through the 
swamps in Louisiana opposite Vicksburg, by which he 
could get to the Mississippi below the mouth of the Big 
Black. That part of Louisiana is very low, traversed 
in all directions by small bayous which can be passed 
only on bridges, and often ^videly overflowed when the 
river is high. The roads in the summer and fall can 
be used for ordinary purposes, but the passage of an 
army with wagon trains and artillery in winter or early 
spring would be impossible. It was intended to move 
the artillery and wagons on barges, through a series 
of the small bayous connected with each other, to 
New Carthage, a small place on the Louisiana bank 



78 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

of the Mississippi, about twelve miles above Grand 
Gulf. 

By this time the river was falling and the ground 
slowly drying. Early in April small bodies of troops 
had worked their way through the swamps to New 
Carthage. Others followed, but no large number 
could move at one time, because the roads were so 
easily broken up ; and it was the end of April before 
the greater part of the army was in bivouac at New 
Carthage and below, on the bank of the river. 

While this movement was in progress, the gunboats 
and transports were engaged in the exciting game of 
running the gauntlet of the Vicksburg batteries from 
Young's Point to New Carthage. 

None of the deeds of the war appear more daring 
than these thrilling races. The boats were manned by 
volunteers, it being thought cruel to order men into a 
service so fearfully hazardous ; but there were volun- 
teers in plenty for every race. The boats were 
trimmed and prepared with care, platings and bul- 
warks of different materials were constructed along: 
the port sides, and then, with such cover as the night 
could give, with fires and lights concealed, and a full 
head of steam on, hugging the western shore and 
straining every nerve for speed, creaking and trembling 
as if in desperation, they rushed across the enemy's 
front. Every battery was opened upon them with 
terrific crash. The black sky was lighted by the in- 
cessant flashes of the big guns, and huge bonfires, 
intended to disclose the ^vhole stream, were set ablaze 
on the bank. But the guns were mostly mounted on 
high ground, and the flying, darkened boats were poor 
targets at the best. All the boats were more or less 



VICKSBURG. 79 

struck, and serious damage was done upon a few of 
them, but only two or three were lost out of the many 
that entered the race , and but very few Ijves were 
lost. 

It was demonstrated that an army could be supplied 
below Vicksburg by running boats past the batteries. 
The great question was solved ; and the further cam- 
paign against Vicksburg was to be only a matter of 
time and endurance. 

Now came the liberation of the Fourth Iowa from 
Arkansas. It was near the end of April when General 
Gorman, at Helena, received orders to send one cavalry 
regiment to join Grant at New Carthage. Several 
officers of the Fourth Iowa, and particularly Major 
Parkell, when in command, had been persistently trying 
to get it ordered into the Vicksburg campaign ; but 
Major Winslow, having the fortune to be then on 
duty in Helena immediately under Gorman, induced 
him to select the Fourth Iowa. With great satisfac- 
tion the regiment broke camp and embarked at Helena 
on the 28th and 29th of April, on the Platte Valley 
and other steamboats, Lieut.-Col. Swan in command. 
On the 30th, in the evening, it landed at MilHken's 
Bend, and bivouacked just west of the levee, a little 
north of the landing. 

Early the next morning the whole regiment was 
ordered out to the Bayou MaQon, on a reconnoissance. 
This occupied several days, but nothing occurred, and 
the regiment returned to the river on the 4th. On 
the 5th its march was begun toward New Carthage. 
The route was by way of Richmond and Lake St. 
Joseph, leaving New Carthage on the left, and ending 
at Hard-Times Landing on the 8th. Transports enough 



8o STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

could not be bad that day, but during the night and the 
next day the regiment, except Co. G, crossed the Missis- 
sippi and landed at Grand Gulf. The infantry had 
crossed some days before, the bloody battle at Port 
Gibson had been fought, and Grant was marching north- 
ward in Mississippi. On Sunday, the 10th, the regi- 
ment overtook Grant near Cayuga, and went into camp 
at Kocky Springs. It was then assigned to Sherman's 
Fifteenth Corps, and placed in the advance. Co. G was 
left at Young's Point during May, in courier service. 

The men felt, at last, that they were soldiers in 
an organized and effective army, and they entered 
upon the campaign with great spirit. They were to 
have a whole career crowded into the next few months. 

The Fourth Iowa was the only regiment of cavalry 
in Grant's army in the Vicksburg campaign, until 
about the middle of June ^ ; and the service required 
of it was very great. It was literally incessant labor, 
it was performed in intensely hot weather, much of the 
time in blinding dust and with unserviceable horses, 
and in the face of a steady and rapid decrease of 
numbers by disease. 

On the 11th Grant's army was all in hand, prepared 
for action. The three corps moved steadily northeast- 
ward, keeping about parallel with the Big Black 
Kiver, as if to hold it, but on diiferent roads. McCler- 
nand kept to the left, on the road to Edward's Depot, 
a point on the Vicksburg and Jackson railway not far 
from the Big Black ; Sherman was in the centre, on 
the Auburn road ; and McPherson on the right, march- 
ing toward Raymond. 

' There were some separate companies, acting as escorts to generals, and 
there was one small Missouri battalion, Wright's, on service similar to that of 
the Fourth low.i. 



VICKSBURG. 8i 



The Fourth Iowa, in front of Sherman, came upon 
the enemy at Fourteen-mile Creek, near Dillon's planta- 
tion, early Tuesday morning, the 12th. 

The evening before, upon special instructions from 
Sherman, the Second Battalion of the Fourth Iowa, 
under Major Winslow, had been sent forward, had 
crossed the creek by a bridge and examined the coun- 
try for some distance beyond, but without learning 
anything of the enemy. Perhaps the bridge should 
have been held over-night, but it was not so ordered. 
The enemy occupied the position during the night, 
and in the morning bui-ned the bridge. Then, conceal- 
ing themselves in the dense thickets along the northern 
bank, they awaited the head of Sherman's column. 
This Avas the Fourth Iowa, the Second Battalion being 
in front. As the advanced company tui'ned a bend of 
the road and observed the smoking bridge, the enemy 
opened fire from apparently a long line. The whole 
battalion was immediately thrown into position in the 
wood on the left of the road, and returned the fire, 
though without seeing the enemy. The Third Bat- 
talion was formed on the right of the road and the 
First on the left of the Second ; and all joined in the 
fire, but the rebels held their position. As the creek 
could not be crossed without a bridge, and the posi- 
tion and force of the enemy could not be discovered 
because of the thick woods and underbrush which 
concealed them, Sherman ordered up a battery, with 
infantry in support, and opened the guns at short 
range. This soon silenced the rebel fire; and the 
bank of the creek being gained, the biidge was re- 
paired and the corps crossed before noon. It was 
afterward learned that the enemy was Wirt Adams' 

6 



82 STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

cavalry, a body of wild riders with whom the Fourth 
Iowa were to become well acquainted in the field. 

The regiment lost one man killed and three wounded, 
and had four horses killed.' In this affair Major Wins- 
low, commanding the Second Battalion of the regiment, 
had the good fortune to distinguish himself in the 
estimation of General Sherman, who came up in time to 
witness the most of it. But he lost his horse by a shot, 
and nearly lost his life by the horse falling upon him. 

While the fighting was going on here the thunder 
of artillery was heard from the east. It was the 
battle of Raymond, a severely contested engagement, 
in which McPherson defeated the rebels, and com- 
pelled them to retreat upon Jackson. The two corps 
bivouacked that night near Fourteen-mile Creek, 
McPherson holding the right at Raymond and Sher- 
man the centre at Dillon's, while McClernand filled 
the space between Sherman's left and the Big Black. 
Pemberton and Johnston were in front, numbering 
together a considerably larger force ; but they were 
separated in position and divided in counsel. They 
could easily have joined, but they did not. Grant 
seized the opportunity. He determined to throw him- 
self between them and attack Johnston first, because 
his command was the smaller and he held Jackson, an 
important point in the Confederate strategy. Accord- 
ingly, on the morning of the 13th, McPherson moved 
toward Clinton; and Sherman, crossing his track, 
marched eastward, by way of Mississippi Springs, 
directly upon Jackson. Grant expected to fight the 
decisive battle of the campaign near Edwards' Depot, 
where Pemberton was concentrating. 

' See Appendix : " Engagements and Casualties." 



VICKSBURG. 83 



The Fourth Iowa was at the head of Sherman's 
column, passing through the village of Mississippi 
Springs, a noted watering-place for Southerners, in a 
tremendous rain. Rain fell nearly all day, making the 
roads very bad, and preventing any fighting except on 
the skirmish lines. 

The Second and Third battalions of the regiment 
were engaged in the skirmishing, but without loss. 
On the 14th the rain still poured, but Sherman pressed 
on toward Jackson. McPherson had reached Clinton, 
and was moving upon Jackson. The Fourth Iowa was 
placed on Sherman's extreme left, keeping within 
touch of McPherson 's right. The enemy fell back 
sullenly, sometimes threatening to bring on a battle. 
About one o'clock a determined stand was made, and 
artillery opened upon Sherman's front. This was done 
by the two or three brigades of Gregg's Division 
which had been defeated by McPherson at Raymond 
on the 12th. Sherman ordered Lieut.-Col. Swan to 
move with the Fourth Iowa directly forward, beyond 
the enemy's right, so as to flank him, while he threw 
his advanced brigades into line on both sides of the 
road and pushed steadily on, returning the rebel fire as 
he moved. The rain fell in torrents, and the regiment 
had much difficulty in getting through the completely 
saturated, clayey fields and over the many streams 
made by the rains ; but it reached its place in good 
time, and advanced under a brisk fire of shell and 
small-arms. Finding themselves thus flanked, the 
rebels gave way and precipitately retreated into Jack- 
son, losing 250 prisoners, six guns, and many wagons 
filled with stores. 

Sherman's advance immediately moved into the city, 



84 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

the rebels flying out to the north, apparently in great 
confusion. Johnston had ordered the retreat of his 
whole force to Canton. It was about four o'clock in 
the afternoon. At the same time McPherson came in, 
by assault, from the west side of the city. 

It was a striking scene. The lines of earthworks 
and bastions, newly constructed about the city and 
not yet fully mounted with guns, were big ridges of 
trampled yellow mud ; some of the guns were lying on. 
the ground, ready to be mounted ; others which had 
been mounted on carriages were found abandoned in 
hasty attempts to get them away. There was still a 
storm of wind and rain. Fires were burning in differ- 
ent places, set by the enemy to destroy military stores. 
The citizens were filled with terror, and in the streets, 
in all positions and conditions, were many wagons, 
carriages and other vehicles, in which they were trying 
to take away their families and goods. Soldiers of 
both the corps, who had come into town in the advance 
and in broken bodies, as is likely to be the case in 
taking a city by assault, were running about, yelling 
and making a great uproar, their heads turned by their 
success. 

The Union losses in the battles of this day (all from 
Sherman's and McPherson's corps) were 42 killed and 
258 wounded and missing ; while the enemy lost 845 
killed, wounded, and captured, 17 guns, a large number 
of wagons and animals, and a great quantity of stores. 

Immediately the city was occupied the Fourth Iowa 
was sent across the Pearl (the enemy having failed to 
destroy the bridge), upon a reconnoissance toward 
Brandon. It marched a few miles from the river, on 
the Brandon road, and went into camp. The next 



VICKSBURG. 85 



morning it moved on, near to Brandon, and then re- 
turned to Jackson, having done nothing, though some 
rebels were seen at Brandon and though there was at 
least ^n opportunity to take a locomotive and train of 
cars. While the cavalry was on this service, Sher- 
man's infantry was occupied in destroying all supplies 
and property at Jackson which could be of avail to 
the enemy. 

The next day, the 16th, the work of destruction 
being done, Sherman's corps was moved rapidly to the 
west, on the Clinton road. The Fourth Iowa was 
now placed in the rear, and was the rear-guard of the 
army, McPherson having marched toward Clinton on 
the 15th and McClernand having remained between 
Fourteen-mile Creek and Edwards' Depot. It had to 
deal with many infantry stragglers on leaving Jackson, 
and found them troublesome. Its rear companies were 
not yet beyond the suburbs, when, looking back, they 
saw the noted " Confederate Hotel " in flames. Much 
had been said about this house during the occupation, 
and there was among the soldiers a grudge against the 
owner. He had changed the name of the house from 
" United States " to '' Confederate," and the old name 
could still be seen under the new on the sign ; and it 
was I'eported he had ill-treated Union prisoners taken 
at Shiloh. He had courage enough to apply to Gen- 
eral Sherman for " protection," upon the ground that 
he was a Union man, but the General found it too 
hard to believe. His hotel was of wood, and was large 
and high, so that it made a fine fire. ' 

' The claims of Unionism were, naturally, ven- common in the South during 
the war, and gave officers in the army a great deal of trouble. Of course 
they were false in many or most cases, the object being to save property or to 
get personal favors. There was a firm in Jackson at the time of its capture 



86 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

It was afternoon on the 16th when the Fourth 
Iowa left Jackson. Before Clinton was reached the 
booming of distant guns was heard. It was the battle 
of Champion's Hill. Sherman pushed his column on 
as fast as possible. The noise of the conflict increased. 
The distance became shorter and the battle hotter. 
The hill could be seen at times, with clouds of smoke 
rising over it, and with glimpses of the movements of 
troops. Every man felt that he, as well as the whole 
army, was to be put to the test ; for every man in the 
army understood that a great battle must be fought 
and perhaps every fighting man engaged before the 
Big Black could be crossed. 

Grant intended to fight Pemberton as soon as pos- 
sible, fearing that Johnston would, by a circuit west- 
ward from his position between Jackson and Canton, 
bring the two rebel armies together. Indeed, as after- 
ward appeared, Johnston had ordered Pemberton to 
move to Clinton for that junction. But Pemberton 
was already marching to the southeast, from the Big 
Black towai'd Raymond, with the purpose to attack 
Grant's communications. A fatal mistake ! Grant 
had no communications. He had made no attempt to 
maintain a line behind him to the Mississippi. It was 
the theory of Davis and Pemberton that he could not 
exist without such a line, and they assumed that he had 
it. He had a big wagon-train, however, which was then 

operating a large cotton factory, making tent-cloth for the rebel army. They, 
too, wanted "protection." Their factory was still in full operation when 
(irant visited it, after the capture of the town, and they saw no reason why they 
should not continue. They said they had some orders from " the government," 
which really must be filled, and that they gave employment to many poor 
persons. They were advised to leave the factory for awhile, a hint they 
understood a little later when it was seen to be ablaze. 



VICKSBURG. 87 



near Raymond, and, if Pemberton had followed out his 
plan, there would have been a battle for it on that day 
(the 16th) at Fourteen-mile Creek, not far from where 
the Fourth Iowa had its engagement on the 12th. In- 
deed, Pemberton's advance was actually skirmishing 
with the advance of the divisions guarding the train on 
the morning of the 16th when he received Johnston's 
order. Upon that order he abandoned his plan of cut- 
ting off Grant from the Mississippi, and, in the face of 
his enemy, countermarched to the north to join John- 
ston. But it was too late. Three of McClernand's 
divisions and one of Sherman's (Blair) were now close 
on his right flank, another of McClernand's (Hovey) 
was in his front, McPherson with his two divisions 
was coming up on Hovey's right, and Sherman was 
moving from Jackson with two divisions more. 

The head of Pemberton's column had reached a 
point Just east of Champion's Hill. He faced to the 
right, Stevenson's division forming his left, Bowen's 
the centre, and Loring's the right. In that order Ste- 
venson and Bowen took possession of the hill, and Lo- 
ring held the Raymond-Edwards road in front of the 
crossing of Baker's Creek, south of the hill. Their 
aggregate was at least eighteen thousand, that number 
being admitted in Pemberton's report. McClernand's 
march had brought his divisions directly in front of these 
divisions of the enemy, Hovey being on the right. 
Smith on the left, Osterhaus and Carr in the centre, 
with Blair (of Sherman's corps) in rear of Smith. 
McPherson, now arrived from Clinton, was moving into 
position well to the right of Plovey. There must have 
been in all these divisions thirty thousand men, but the 
battle was fought by less than one third of that number. 



88 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



The battle was opened by Hovey, who ascended the 
eastern slope of the hill with his division against the 
divisions of Stevenson and Bowen. In a fierce struggle 
he took the crest of the hill and eleven of the enemy's 
guns, but he was not supported as he had expected to 
be, and the enemy, rallying in force, compelled him to 
retire. No help was given this intrepid officer by his 
corps general, but his call upon McPherson for aid was 
instantly honored. With Crocker's (Quinby's) divi- 
sion, just arrived, Hovey again assaulted, again reached 
the crest in a storm of fire, and again captured five of 
the guns. Grant had now appeared, and put McPher- 
son in immediate charge of the battle. He ordered 
Logan's division up the steep northern side of the hill, 
to attack Stevenson's left flank. But meantime Loring's 
three brigades were sent, one after another, to reinforce 
Bowen and Stevenson. Hovey and Crocker were again 
forced back, but not far, and, taking advantage of the 
awkward position into which the rebels had been com- 
pelled to place their lines, Hovey concentrated his bat- 
teries and opened an enfilading fire. Logan had just 
doubled up Stevenson's division by his flank attack. 
The rebels broke at all points and retreated in great 
confusion, losing 24 guns and 4,000 men killed, wound- 
ed, and captured. Besides these losses, Loring with his 
whole division was cut off by Osterhaus, and retreated 
to the south without guns or baggage. 

The Union loss was 410 killed, 1,844 wounded, and 
187 missing. Hovey's division lost more than one 
third of its number, bearing again and again, with 
splendid fortitude, the most destructive of the enemy's 
fire. The only Union troops actually engaged in the 
battle were the two brigades of Hovey's division, 



VICKSBURG. 89 



three of Crocker's, and three of Logan's, between 
9,000 and 10,000 men in all. 

Pemberton's army would have been destroyed if 
McClernand had done his duty. The shameful failure 
of this " political " general can hardly be spoken of 
with patience. He was on the right of the rebel posi- 
tion, with as many men (excluding Hovey and includ- 
ing Blair) as Pemberton had. He could easily have 
thrown his left on Pemberton's flank, who would then 
have been confronted on three sides, with a difficult 
stream (Baker's Creek) on the fourth. He had him- 
self sent to Grant in the morning, asking in his noisy 
way for leave to " bring on a general engagement"; and 
he got the leave, but he remained quietly in j)Osition 
the rest of the day, comparatively without action, 
though on the very verge of the battle-field, while the 
smaller force of McPherson twice advanced alone to 
the assault upon that bloody hill. Indeed, one of his 
own divisions (Hovey) temporarily separated from 
him and operating with McPherson, bore the brunt of 
the battle, fighting at times against desperate odds, 
suifering reverse again and again almost under Mc- 
Clernand's eye, but without any help from him. Even 
when the battle was over and Pemberton was falling 
back in confusion upon Edwards' Depot, Osterhaus, 
already close on the right flank of the defeated rem- 
nant, could have reached Edwards' Depot in time to 
complete the ruin already so nearly accomplished, if 
only McClernand had so ordered. 

It was plain then, and it has been confirmed by 
sound military criticism since, that with active co- 
operation on McClernand's part Pemberton's whole 
army would have been destroyed. If any one of his 



90 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

division commanders, Carr, Osterhaus, Smith, or Hovey, 
had been in his place, the Thirteenth Corps would not 
have stood idly by when the fate of Yicksbiirg was in 
the balance. For Yicksburg must have fallen in that 
battle, if McClernand had only done what he easily 
could have done. It is not an idle speculation, but a 
proposition capable of demonstration, that if the Thir- 
teenth Corps had been permitted to do what it could 
have done at Champion's Hill, there would have been 
no siege of Vicksburg, no siege of Port Hudson, no 
siege of Jackson, perhaps even no Gettysburg, nor any 
subsequent invasion of a Northern State. Certainly 
many thousands of lives and many millions of money 
were afterward spent in doing work which would not 
have been required if the work of that day had been 
made complete. It was one of the several lamentable 
instances during the war of the dreadful folly of 
placing a man in high command, not for ability proved 
by training and experience, but to pay off a political 
debt or to placate political " influence." 

As it was, however, Pemberton's defeat was com- 
plete. He had lost half his guns and a very large part 
of his men. The remainder, broken and demoralized, 
hurried toward Vicksburg. Indeed, he could not 
have moved in any other direction. Grant immediately 
sent McClernand's divisions in pursuit, and ordered 
the whole army forward to the Big Black. The 
Fourth Iowa bivouacked that night near Bolton, and 
in the morning, Sunday, moved on, now on Sherman's 
right, on a road to Bridgeport, a crossing of the Big 
Black. But it was soon detached and sent on a rapid 
march to the north, to learn whether Johnston was 
moving westward. This march was to Brownsville, 



VICKSBURG. 91 

about fifteen miles, and it disclosed that Johnston Lad 
not moved west of Canton ; but some of his cavalry 
were at Brownsville, and had a little skirmish firing 
with the Fourth Iowa before vacating that village. 
Heturning thence to the Big Black, the regiment 
reached Sherman's rear, near Bridgeport, at night. 

Pemberton had made preparations at several places 
to defend the passage of the Big Black, particularly at 
the railroad bridge. But there was great confusion in 
his army, and he was closely pursued. He was only 
able to get his troops into position at the railroad 
bridge, where strong field works had been constructed. 
For the defense of the Bridgeport crossing, a few miles 
above the bridge, he could do but little. 

But the position at the bridge was naturally veiy 
well adapted for defense. The river here bends 
directly to the west, the land within being in horse- 
shoe form, about one and a half miles long and half as 
wide. The railroad runs along the middle of this 
tongue of land, and the bridge is at the western end. 
On the western bank, on both sides of the bridge, the 
land is high, rising into hills above the railroad, and 
easily defended. Here strong earthworks had been 
erected and guns placed in position. The land 
opposite, within the horseshoe, was low and flat, but 
little obstructed by trees, and across the neck, a mile 
or more iu front of the bridge, ran a bayou or series 
of miry lagoons, filled by the overflow of the river. 
These lagoons reached nearly all the way from the 
river above to the river below the bridge, and served 
rarely well as ditches. Behind them the enemy had 
constructed lines of entrenchments, with bastions 
mounting eighteen guns. Three brigades occupied 



92 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



this line, while the main force was held in reserve in 
support of the heavier works at the west end of the 
bridge. 

Carr's division of McClernand's corps, in advance 
in the immediate pursuit of Peraberton, coming up to 
the front of the outer line early in the forenoon, im- 
petuously assaulted without waiting for the movements 
of the other divisions. The rebels checked the first 
assault, but broke on the second and fled from their 
entrenchments over the bridge, leaving all their guns 
and nearly 2,000 prisoners in Carr's hands. The 
Union loss was 39 killed, 237 wounded, and 3 missing. 
Two Iowa regiments ^ led this splendid attack, suffered 
the greater part of the loss, and may almost be said to 
have won the battle of themselves. Two others^ at 
Champion's Hill had yet more distinguished them- 
selves and suffered still greater loss. 

It was now easy for Sherman, reaching Bridgeport 
at noon, to drive off the small body of rebels posted 
on the west bank. He did so, and immediately set to 
work to lay his pontoon bridge. This was finished 
when the Fourth Iowa arrived from its Brownsville 
reconnoissauce, and a large part of the corps moved 
over during the night. 

Early on Monday, the 18th, Sherman marched his 
column to the northwest, with the purpose of estab- 
lishing a line from the Big Black to the Yazoo, which 
would have to be broken in any attempt to join the 
forces of Pemberton and Johnston west of the Big 
Black. The Fourth Iowa was on the right, marching 
toward Haines' Bluff. This formidable position, heavily 

' The Twenty-fourth and Twenty-eighth Infantry. 
' The Twenty-first and Twenty-second Infantry, 



VICKSBURG. 93 



fortified, was tlien held by only two companies of the 
enemy. It was about fifteen miles north of the railroad 
along which Pemberton was retreating into Vicksburg, 
and was open to the rear, so that it became untenable 
when the Big Black was lost. When Sherman got to 
the Benton road with his infantry he had practically 
taken Haines' Bluff, because it was only four miles 
farther and neither Pemberton nor Johnston could 
have reached it. He directed Lieutenant-Colonel Swan 
to move rapidly upon the place with the Fourth Iowa, 
and take it, unless there should be a serious attempt at 
defense. Early in the afternoon the head of the regi- 
ment approached the works. There was no sign of a 
purpose to defend. Captain Peters, with Company B, 
was sent forward for closer observation. He rode into 
the main fort without a shot, and received its surrender 
with about twenty of the enemy. The rest had fled 
to Vicksburg, too much hurried or scared to de- 
stroy the property, or even to spike the guns. They 
had left their tents standing, and had even abandoned 
their hospital with fifty sick in it. Admiral Porter's 
fleet being seen down the Yazoo was signalled, when 
the gunboat Baron de Kalb came up, under Lieutenant 
Walker, to whom Captain Peters turned over the fort 
and the prisoners. The fortifications at Haines' Bluff ^ 
were, it is said, the most extensive and elaborate in 
construction of all then in the Confederacy. It was 
well that Grant, in April, decided not to try their 
strength. There were on the works fourteen of the 
heaviest guns then known and a full equipment of 
smaller ones, with a large supply of ammunition and 



' Called ' ' .Snyder's Mills " in Pemberton's and other Confederate reports. 
Snyder's Mill and Snyder's Bluff were near. 



94 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



material. From the height of this bluff the surround- 
ing country and the Yazoo River could be overlooked 
for a long distance. 

Captain Peters moved on to the fortifications at 
Snyder's Bluff, a few miles nearer Vicksburg. These 
he found also abandoned, with nine heavy guns dis- 
mounted and a large quantity of fixed ammunition in 
magazine. 

By Admiral Porter's report of May 20, 1863, it 
would appear that Lieutenant Walker, with the Baron 
de Kalh, had taken Haines' Bluff, a piece of carelessness 
in statement which Fourth Iowa men regard with 
resentment. Other writers, probably led by Admiral 
Porter's statement, have fallen into the same error, but 
General Sherman gives the credit to the Fourth Iowa, 
to whom it belongs.^ 

In the occupation of Haines' Bluff the campaign 
against Vicksburg was assured of success. Grant's 
army, after a complete isolation for ten days, had now 
a sure base of supplies, and communication was again 
opened with the north. That formidable range of 
hills which, five months before, had witnessed Sher- 
man's bloody defeat, which, only one month before, 
Grant had thought too strong for the whole of his 
army, now fell into the hands of a company of cavalry. 
The same day connection was made with the steam- 
boats, and a permanent landing established at Chick- 
asaw, upon the very ground where Sherman's heroic 
effort was made in December. 

Sherman's infantry rapidly closed in, leaving Haines' 
Bluff to the rear of their right, their lines extending 
from the Walnut Hills, on the right, to the Graveyard 

' Sherman's report of May 24, 1863. 



VICKSBURG. 95 

road on the left. The other two corps moved up, Mc- 
Pherson stretching f i*om Sherman's left to McClernand's 
right and McClernand's left moving out toward War- 
renton, a place on the river two miles south of the city. 
That night the Fourth Iowa bivouacked at Clear Creek, 
on the Jackson road, in rear of McPherson, about ten 
miles directly east of the city. 

The next morning, the 19th, the lines of the three 
corps were advanced, and, relying upon the demorali- 
zation of the enemy under his recent defeats, Grant 
ordered a general assault upon the works. It was 
made, and failed, with severe loss. Of course the 
cavalry did not take part, but it furnished a heavy 
picket detail for the rear, and a large detachment 
marched to the Big Black for observation. The 
remainder of the regiment lay in camp. 

Then there were some days of comparative rest for 
the infantry. Grant was occupied in the disposition of 
his lines and c^mps, getting up supplies from the river 
and considering a more determined attempt to storm 
the position. The Fourth Iowa remained in the tem- 
porary camp it occupied the night of the 18th, main- 
taining several strong picket-posts toward the Big 
Black and sending out every day scouting and recon- 
noitring detachments. Fatigue details were also kept 
on the road to the Yazoo landing at Chickasaw, bring- 
ing rations and forage ; and the men not otherwise 
under orders were busied in the shoeing and care of 
the animals in camp and other labors. 

On the 2 2d Grant made a careful and persistent 
attempt to carry the rebel works by storm. The 
Fourth Iowa remained on duty on the rear line, but 
some of the officers and men, with leave, went to the 



96 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

front and saw the terrible struggle as spectators. There 
could be no more splendid courage in war than was 
seen that day. At many points along the lines columns 
of the blue coats moved down into the ravines which 
separated the opposing armies, in fine order, with gleam- 
ing arms, amid the roar of artillery and the crash of the 
enemy's musketry ; then dashed up the opposite steeps, 
surmounted by the works they were to take, their num- 
bers thinned by the sweeping fire with fearful rapidity, 
and the survivors at last struggling desperately hand to 
hand in flame and smoke along the top. It was all of 
no avail. The men who broke at Champion's Hill 
and the Big Black fought well behind heavy fortifica- 
tions. 

It was seen that the cost of success by assault would 
be far too great, and Grant resigned himself to a siege. 
The operations and incidents of that siege are told in 
many books, and it is with only one regiment that we 
are here concerned. 

The camp of the regiment was now moved to a better 
position, a mile or more northward, in the rear of Sher- 
man's left. It was in and near a beautiful grove of 
magnolias, now in full bloom, on the plantation of Mar- 
shall, a rich lawyer of Vicksburg. The mansion sup- 
plied some comforts to the hospital department of tke 
regiment ; and indeed in other parts of the camp there 
could be seen certain equipments for ease, such as were 
not issued by quartermasters nor mentioned in the army 
regulations. 

The eifective force of the regiment was kept very 
closely at work. Co. G now rejoined, from its courier 
service at Young's Point, to share the ceaseless toil. 
Grant was getting considerable additions to his troops, 



VJCKSBURG. 97 

but no cavalry came until a month after the invest- 
ment, and, as has been said, the Fourth Iowa was mean- 
time the only cavalry regiment in the army. There 
was a detachment of the Sixth Missouri Cavalry, known 
as Wright's Battalion, numbering about 150. This 
detachment and the Fourth Iowa were relied upon to 
furnish all the cavalry pickets along the lines of the Big 
Black and all scouting and reconnoitring parties. And 
even during the last two or three weeks of the siege, 
when there were several additional regiments of cavalry, 
there was quite as much to do as ever, because the 
outer lines were then more extended and there was 
more apprehension of Johnston's advance. From the 
1st of May till the 1st of July scarcely an hour of rest 
was possible. Fifty-four days within those two months 
the effective force of the regiment, or a large part of it, 
was in the saddle ; and many of the nights, too, were 
partly or wholly spent there. 

The service was all ^dthin the country between the 
Yazoo and the Big Black, from the Jackson railroad 
nearly as far north as Yazoo City. The only route 
practicable to Johnston in advancing to the relief of 
Yicksburg would be southward between those rivers. 
He could cross the Big Black above Brownsville with- 
out opposition, but below he would have to iight a 
decisive battle for only the crossing. One might say 
that every road and lane within that region between the 
two rivers was known to every man in the Fourth 
Iowa. Indeed, although the regular camp of the regi- 
ment was during all this time at different points a few 
miles east of Grant's investing lines, the camp was only 
a place where the baggage and the men and horses not 
fit for duty were kept, the men on active duty ha\ang 



98 STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

no camp but the bivouac they made each night by the 
roadside on their marches. 

As the summer advanced the weather became very- 
hot, w^ater was scarce and bad, and the dust increased 
in the roads to a serious hardship. Naturally, many 
men fell ill, and deaths and discharges from disability 
were frequent. Many even of those on duty were ill 
in some degree. The heavy work and insufficient food 
told severely upon the horses too. Many hundreds 
were broken or worn out by their incessant trials, and, 
for some reason, none could be got from the quarter- 
master's department to supply the deficiency. So that 
there was, from the beginning of the siege, a steady and 
rapid decline in the effective strength of the regiment, 
both in men and horses, and when the fall of Vicks- 
burg came, barely three hundred men, out of the eight 
hundred then on the rolls, could be mounted for duty. 

The work of the regiment during this period has not 
found a place in history. The reports buried in the 
Adjutant-General's Office show some marches and en- 
gagements ; but there are, after all, only a few scattered 
points in the actual life of the soldier which get re- 
corded. The hardest and most destructive part of his 
service does not reach the page of fame. There are no 
scenes of thrilling conflict in it, nothing picturesque or 
glorious, nothing but toilsome marches, sleepless nights, 
coarse labor, exposure, privation, and disease. 

Of course, skirmishes with rebel cavalry often oc- 
curred in this service, in which sometimes men were 
shot or captured ; and there were more important 
engagements. On the 24th of May, near Mechanics- 
burg, a large detachment of the regiment, under Major 
Parkell, joined with other smaller detachments of 



VICKSBURG. 99 



cavalry, all under Lieutenant-Colonel Swan, met a body 
of the enemy, and a desultory skirmish followed, lasting 
several hours. Night coming on, Colonel Swan re- 
turned to his camp. In the Fourth Iowa one man was 
wounded and one horse killed. On the 29th, near the 
same place, Major Parkell, Avith all the effective force 
of the regiment, acting alone, had a more serious en- 
gagement, but he succeeded in driving the enemy, with 
the loss of one officer and six men wounded. Major 
"Winslow, whose battalion was in position in support of 
the guns, was struck on the leg by a j^iece of shell, and 
though he continued on duty, suffered from the wound 
for many months. On the 4th of June, at Satartia, 
marching in advance of General Kimball's infantry, on 
the " Yazoo River Expedition " (a reconnoissance in 
force, to develop the enemy's strength between the 
Yazoo and'Big Black), the regiment was again engaged 
with Wirt Adams' cavalry. A larger force being de- 
veloped by this affair. General Kimball brought a 
division of infantry^ into action, and drove the enemy 
back upon Yazoo City. 

On one of these marches, June 6th, one of the 
hospital-stewards of the regiment, Joel R. Garretson, 
was captured. He had for some time insisted upon 
riding a ridiculously small horse, and, falling behind 
the column that day, he was pursued, and could not 
ride fast enough to escape. He was exchanged after a 
time, but did not serve again with the regiment, being 
detached at St. Louis and placed on duty in one of the 
hospitals there. 

The camp of the regiment was moved several times 
in June, first from Marshall's plantation to Wixon's 
plantation, about two miles northeast, then, for a few 



loo STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

days, to Snyder's Bluff, a part of the range of bluffs 
along the Yazoo, between Haines' Bluff and Chickasaw 
Bluff; and finally to Bear Creek, farther toward the 
Big Black and about twenty miles northeast of Vicks- 
burg. 

In the latter part of June, Johnston advanced from 
Jackson toward the Big Black, and his cavalry was 
reported in considerable bodies on the eastern side, 
from Brownsville toward Mechanicsburg. Our cavalry 
watched the crossings with care, and was employed in 
obstructing the roads on the west side, by which John- 
ston would have to advance if he should cross. This 
was done chiefly by felling trees into the roads. The 
Fourth Iowa had much of the work to do, and made a 
number of trips toward the Big Black for that purpose, 
without seeing the enemy. 

On the 2 2d of June, Grant was convinced that 
Johnston was about to give battle. He sent a message 
that day to all his corps generals, advising them that 
Johnston would, mthin twenty-four or forty-eight 
hours, cross the Big Black above Bridgeport, and 
advance by way of Bear Creek ; and gave them careful 
instructions for the disposition of troops to meet the 
movement in force. On the same day, under orders 
from General Sherman and before the message was 
received by him, a detail of the Fourth Iowa was 
sent out towai'd the Big Black River, for the block- 
ading work. There were about 120 men, the official 
detail being 30 each, from Companies A, F, I, and K, 
and Major Pai'kell commanded. " Cy " Washburn 
went along with his "battery," — the 2-pound brass 
howitzer which had been captured at Jackson. This 
was the occasion, already referred to, when Washburn 



VICKSBURG. loi 

; ^ 7^ 

was lost to sight, though he remained long to memory- 
dear. Major Parkell was ordered to blockade the road 
at or near Birdsong's Ferry, a crossing of the Big 
Black, first reconnoitring the region carefully. The 
detachment accordingly marched out on the Mechanics- 
burg road, to Hill's plantation, about seven miles 
northeast from the camp. Here there was a fork, the 
Mechanicsburg road turning to the north and the 
Birdsong's Ferry road to the southeast. Toward 
Mechanicsburg there were open fields on both sides 
the first half mile, then a long stretch of thick woods 
and underbrush. The Hill house was on the right or 
east side of this road, near the fork, and a little north 
of the house, on the west side of the road, extending 
away from it at a right angle, was a long row of cabins, 
the slave quarters. The ferry road ran, in serpentine 
form, along the crest of a dividing ridge, with fields 
extending about five hundred yards on its easterly side 
and about a thousand yards on its westerly side. After 
passing these fields the road ran through woods about 
a mile, and then descended the ridge, to the bottom 
lands of the river. Along this wooded part of the 
road the ridge was narrow and its sides steep and 
irregular, — an excellent position for blockading. Nearly 
parallel with the ferry road and about five hundred 
yards west of it was Bear Creek, a considerable stream, 
the west bank of which rose abruptly into hills and 
bluffs so steep as to be inaccessible except at a very- 
few points. 

Major Parkell posted the thirty men of Company I at 
the border of the woods on the Mechanicsburg road, as 
a picket, and with the remainder of his little column, 
rode down the ferry road, to the bottom. That region 



I02 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

lie carefully explored, without finding any sign of the 
enemy or of any movement of theirs, except that one 
mounted rebel was seen, who fled in haste. But it was 
found that the river was very low, and that it could be 
forded at several places not far from the ferry, so that 
there would be little gained by blockading near the 
river, unless the work were done on a scale much larger 
than was contemplated by the orders. At present the 
narrow ridge appeared to be the best place for the work, 
because there it could be done more safely, and made 
more troublesome to the enemy, than at any other 
point examined. Leaving another picket on the river 
bottom, the Major therefore returned to the ridge and 
set to work. A few men held the horses while the 
others took off theii" arms and felled the trees across 
the road and down the slopes of the ridge. The work 
had been in progress some hours and was nearly done 
when the attack was made. The most of Parkell's men 
were armed with breech-loading carbines, the remainder 
had only revolvers and sabres. 

It was not known that there was any body of the en- 
emy west of the Big Black and south of Mechanicsburg. 
But that morning Lieutenant-Colonel Kobert C. Wood, 
with two regiments of Mississippi cavalry (Wirt Adams' 
and P. B. Starke's), numbering about one thousand, made 
a swift march down from Mechanicsburg, hoping to 
catch some isolated body of his enemies. It was easy 
for him to learn of the movements of Union troops in 
a country where every house contained their bitter 
foes. Indeed, as the blockading of the roads had been 
going on for some days, it is probable that Colonel 
Wood knew of it before he left his camp, and that his 
immediate object was to destroy one of the blockading 




ONE. MIUC 



SC/ltg' 



BATTLE OF BEAR CREEK, OR JONES' PLANTATION, 
JUNE 22, 1863. 
•J, rt, a. Scene of blockading. g, h. Second position of Cos. A and K. 

h. Picket-post of Co. I. 
c. First formation of the enemy. 



d. Second and third formations of the 

enemy. 

e. First position of Co. A. 
/. " " " K. 



/'. Washburn's gun. 
k, I. Positionsof Cos. Fandl. 
k, I, m, n. Cos. F, I, A, K in last stand. 
o. Enemy's advance on ilank, 
/,/, /. Course of flight. 



VICKSBURG. 103 



detachments. He must have had accurate information 
of the movement and position of the one sent out this 
day before he attacked. At any rate, his own move- 
ment show^ed that he knew very well how best to 
proceed. 

He moved quietly down the Mechanicsburg road, in 
column, until he got within a mile of the Hill house. 
The wood there, already described, served to conceal 
his men, and enabled them to come very near the 
picket without being seen. Then he made a dash for 
the fork of the road at Hill's house. The astonished 
pickets fired upon him, but of course they were beaten 
at once. Some were shot or taken, and the others 
made for their command on the ferry road, firing back 
as they fled. This firing served to check the rebels a 
little ; but they gained the fork of the road, thus 
placing themselves between Parkell and his camp. 
The firing was heard by the choppers, and they sprang 
at once to their arms. They knew instantly that their 
picket was attacked, and with energetic speed they 
seized their arms and ran up the road. Indeed, two of 
the companies, A and K, were so earnest to reach the 
scene that they gave but little opportunity to Major 
Parkell for an orderly formation. Company A, com- 
manded by First-Sergeant Caleb J. Allen, being the 
first to get into the lane from the woods, immediately 
moved up to the nearest corner of the fields on the 
right. Midway they were met by the flying pickets, 
and at the next curve of the road they received a vol- 
ley from the enemy, and several of them fell dead. 
Getting into the field on the right, the remainder, 
sheltered by the rail fence, returned the fire with brave 
spirit. The conduct of Sergeant Allen in making this 



I04 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



stand has been greatly praised. Company K, led by 
Lieutenant Gardner, followed close upon A, and took 
position on its left ; and the two companies, though 
with severe loss in killed and wounded, fought so 
effectively that the enemy retired behind the slave 
quarters. But, re-forming there, and preparing for a 
more careful and heavier charge, they returned to the 
battle. Major Parkell planted Washburn's howitzer 
in the road where it entered the wood, and formed F 
and the remainder of I, dismounted, on the left of the 
gun, behind the fence which there skirted the wood, 
giving good range across the open field. Then he 
tried to complete this line by ordering A and K into a 
similar position on the right of the gun ; but the rebels 
had advanced to their second attack, a part of them 
charging along the road and through the fields on the 
right, and a part moving off to the left, dismounted, 
to turn Parkell's right flank. The A and K men held 
their old position with great courage until the rebels 
were close upon them in overwhelming numbers, when 
they fell back, stubbornly firing, through the woods 
on that side of the road, to a position in front of the 
right of the gun. In this part of the battle the brave 
Lieutenant Grardner fell, mortally wounded. This 
movement permitted the rebels to charge upon the line 
at the gun, which Washburn was meantime firing up 
the road as fast as he could. But the charge was met 
by the fire of all the companies, and the rebels found 
it so hot that they again retired. Taking advantage 
of this repulse, Parkell tried to improve the position 
of his line and of the gun. But his chance was des- 
perate. The road and the ridge were blockaded be- 
hind him, the bluffs of Bear Creek made a wall on the 



VICKSBURG. 105 



left, the enemy was in front and on the right, ten 
times his own number, and the nearest troops who 
could help were seven miles away. Colonel Wood 
ordered another charge in front, and his flanking de- 
tachment was now on Parkell's right. The last charge 
was made with great boldness and with incessant yell- 
ing. The devoted lowans stood their ground until the 
enemy was upon them. Washburn had no more shot, 
many of the men had exhausted their cartridges, and 
the dismounted flanking detachment now opened fire 
on their right. The unfortunate men broke, and 
attempted to escape. A few got through the enemy's 
lines, but the most ran down the east side of Bear 
Creek until they could pass the bluffs, when they 
crossed and made a long circuit westward, reaching 
their camp in the night. The rebels followed a couple 
of miles, filling the air with triumphant yelling, and 
capturing and wounding many. Washburn and his 
gun were taken. He would not leave it ; but two of 
his gunners, Eli Allen and Henry Black, both of E, 
took the heavy breech-pin out of the gun (it was a 
breech-loader) and carried it for some distance as they 
ran, finally concealing it in the ravine. The pursuit 
was not long continued, however. Colonel Wood 
naturally fearing that he would have to meet a re- 
inforcing column if he should long remain in the region. 
So he soon drew in his men, mounted such of his 
wounded as could ride, and hurried off on the 
Mechanicsburg road. 

As soon as the news reached the camp of the Fourth 
Iowa, the remainder of the regiment was mounted, and 
galloped to the scene in hot haste. Other cavalry was 
sent to join, and the whole force marched till late in 



io6 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

tlie night, nearly to Mechanicsburg, but too late to 
overtake Wood's command. 

Only one half of the unfortunate detachment re- 
turned to camp. The remainder were killed or cap- 
tured, some of the captured being wounded. There 
were 8 killed, 3 mortally wounded, 14 others wounded, 
and 36 captured.^ But, except in pnsoners, the enemy 
suffered more severely. As they took away all 
their wounded who could be moved, their loss cannot 
be exactly stated; but they left behind 15 killed and 
1 mortally wounded, the latter an officer, Major Harris. 
From the number of their killed and the circumstance 
that Parkell's men were partly sheltered, firing at short 
range and much of the time from steady positions, it 
may justly be estimated that the rebel loss in killed 
and wounded was nearly or quite double that of the 
Fourth Iowa. The rebel commander admitted a loss 
of 5 killed, 16 wounded, 1 missing, and 40 horses; 
but, as has been said, fifteen of his killed were found 
on the ground, and he states Parkell's killed and 
wounded at more than one hundred, so that he seems 
to be careless about numbers.^ 

Though it was disaster and defeat for the Fourth 
Iowa, it was a defeat no lowan need be ashamed 
of. Caught unprepared, as they were, through no 
fault of their own, cut off from any support and with- 
out any hope of timely reinforcement, assailed again 
and again by largely superior numbers, it can hardly be 
said that any men have, on other occasions, done better 
than did these in their time of trial. But of course so 
unfortunate and destructive an affair caused great feel- 
ing in the i-egiment ; and it was long the subject of 
bitter criticism. One thing at least was clear, that if 

' See Appendix : " Engagements and Casualties." 
' War Records, Vol. 24, Part 2, page 511. 



VICKSBURG. 107 

the cavalry had been employed, as it should have been, 
in vratching the points by which the enemy could ap- 
proach or in patrolling the roads and river banks, 
instead of constructing defenses, any blockading party 
would have been protected. In view of the known 
position and purpose of Johnston, and of the known 
rendezvous of a large body of the rebel cavalry near 
Mechanicsburg, it was inexcusable neglect or folly to 
send so small a body to do such work without another 
force, of at least equal numbers, posted for protection 
and constantly under arms. The situation in that 
vicinity was well known at army headquarters, as 
is shown by the fact that already orders had been 
issued and preparations begun for an extensive 
strengthening of the lines there. Indeed, on the 
same day of this little battle, Sherman, under orders 
given by Grant the day before, was moving a large 
force from Vicksburg toward the Big Black to meet 
Johnston's advance. 

All of the captured were exchanged and returned to 
the regiment in October, except Livingston, who was 
reported to have died of his wounds in the hands of 
the enemy. 

Lieutenant Gardner, of K, lived six weeks after the 
battle, and Sergeant William T. Biggs, of A, six days, 
each with a ball in the brain. 

It is noteworthy that William Hole, of K, was 
wounded four times in this action ; and, as showing 
that the lighting was hard and close, that the most of 
the killed were struck in the head. Of the seven dead in 
A, six had each a bullet in the head only. Johnson, of 
I, was wounded once in the action, not severely, but 
was wounded twice more while a prisoner. He was 



io8 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

asked by Ms captors, some time after the battle, how 
many men were in Parkell's command, and on his tell- 
ing the true number he was profanely called a liar 
and shot with a pistol, an ugly and dangerous wound 
in the back of the head, and cut a long gash across the 
face with a sabre. His wounds were grossly neglected 
while he was a prisoner, so that when he was exchanged 
his condition was very pitiable and critical ; but under 
good care he recovered. 

There is a remarkable story told of Chappel, of A, 
one of the men killed in this battle. He was a very 
good soldier, earnest, faithful, and industrious about 
his duties. When he was detailed for the blockading 
party he prepared to go, but said he knew he would be 
killed. He said he felt sure of it. He packed up his 
eifects, to be sent home, marked the package with the 
proper address, wrote a farewell letter to his wife, and 
had all his earthly affairs in order when he mounted 
his horse. He was one of the first killed. 

In the new dispositions of troops made by Sherman 
and just referred to, he placed several divisions of in- 
fantry and artillery near Bear Creek, and had them 
throw up a chain of earthworks along the westerly side 
of that stream and thence northwestwardly toward 
the Yazoo. The cavalry was posted in front, along 
the stream, the position of the Fourth Iowa being 
advanced to the point where the Vicksburg and 
Mechanicsburg road crossed the stream, which was 
about a mile west of its recent battle-field. 

The men were very glad to find themselves directly 
under Sherman again. They had been very severely 
tried. The great strain on muscle and nerve of the in- 
cessant labor and excitements of the past two months 



VICKSBURG, 109 



liad reduced the number for duty to a fourth of those 
on the rolls ; and even those marked for duty were 
now much diminished in physical vigor. They saw 
their ranks thinned by unimportant fighting and the 
increasing advances of disease ; they were set to do 
work they were not used to, and which is usually done 
by other portions of an army ; and now in the bloody 
affair of Bear Creek they believed that their general 
officers had not taken even ordinary care for their pro- 
tection. They were not very happy then. 

But it was the dark hour preceding the day. Under 
the immediate rule of Sherman there was a better divi- 
sion of the work among the several regiments of cavalry. 
The men saw his prompt preparations for the defense 
of the new line, and saw that they were no longer 
alone on the outer line ; they were put only to proper 
cavaliy work; they were promised more of Sharp's 
carbines ; and there were i*umors of important changes 
among the field-officers. 

This period was short. About the 1st of July, the 
mining approaches to the works of Yicksburg being 
nearly finished, Grrant decided upon a final grand 
assault, to be made on the morning of the 6th, when 
he was sure he would go in. He ordered Sherman to 
prepare his command to move upon Johnston imme- 
diately upon hearing that Vicksburg was taken. 
Sherman prepared at once. All the sick and other 
impediments were moved out of the way, and the able 
men were equipped, ready to march at any moment. 

But Pemberton anticipated Grant's plan by surren- 
dering on the 4th of July. An account of that 
glorious day in any part of Grant's army would be 
only one account among a thousand. The campaign 



I lo STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

had become a perfect success, crowned by tliat day of 
all days, after a long and unbroken experience of toils 
and dangers, hardships, losses, harassing anxieties, and 
bloody battles, and* at the time when Union men every- 
where were in deep discouragement because there was 
" nothing done " and Lee was invading the North. Let 
it be enough here to say, that on the morning of that 
4th of July every man in Grant's army felt well 
and strong and happy, no matter what reports the 
surgeons have made, with their sick-lists and hos- 
pitals: we knew nothing of Gettysburg, but Vicks- 
BUEG WAS OURS ! It was the beginning of the end 
of the war. 



CHAPTER V. 

THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF THE WAR CHANGE IN 

THE COMMAND OF THE REGIMENT SECOND CAPTURE 

OF JACKSON GREAT RAID FROM VICKSBURG TO MEM- 
PHIS LESSER MOVEMENTS IN MISSISSIPPI RE-EN- 
LISTMENT : " VETERAN VOLUNTEERS " — BETTER ARMS. 

The 4th of July, 1863, is the great day of the 
war. The fall of Vicksburg that day opened the 
Mississippi and divided the Confederacy, cutting off 
its principal armies from their largest field of com- 
missary supplies and depriving its forces west of the 
river of any material value as a factor in the future 
strategy of the great contest. On that day the defeat 
of Lee at Gettysburg was made complete, and irretriev- 
able disaster ended the grandest movement of all that 
were undertaken by the rebels during the war, a 
movement to which their best men devoted their most 
zealous energies, in which they concentrated their every 
available power, and upon which they had built the 
highest hopes. A great battle in Pennsylvania won 
by Lee was to divide the North against itself, over- 
throw the war-party in Congress, and open a way for 
such terms of peace as the South would be willing to 
accept. The government at Richmond strained every 
effort for the success of the great plan. They staked 
all upon the result, and lost. 

Ill 



112 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

The double defeat, on the 4th of July of all days, 
was too much for the Confederacy to bear. There was 
no longer any good in the Trans-Mississippi Depart- 
ment : there could never be another great invasion 
of a Northern State. The Confederacy was now like 
a man keeping up a fight after losing both arms, — 
brave and fierce, and still able to use his legs, but sure 
to be beaten in time. Indeed, to make the simile 
literal, after the summer of 1863 the legs of the rebels 
gave a great deal more trouble and occupation than 
did their arms. That was the experience, at any rate, 
of the Fourth Iowa and the Western cavalry generally, 
who, from July of that year, were continually making 
great marches, trying to reach the enemy, whose legs, 
as if toughened by much use, made it often a long, 
hard chase. 

But though that 4th of July was to the Union 
cause a day of great victories, it was that and more 
to the Fourth Iowa Cavalry. That day marked the 
complete success of its first great campaign. Its work 
up to its departure from Helena had been laborious 
and costly enough, but, comparatively, it had been' 
small and profitless. Now the regiment reached the 
end of its green period. It may be said that in the 
Vicksburg campaign it took its degree, and with 
honors. Indeed, though its service afterward steadily 
increased in value, that was due rather to added expe- 
rience than to further instruction. It had learned its 
lesson. 

Yet there was another event of that 4th of July 
which was more directly important to it than either 
the success of the campaign or the acquisition of 
experience. Its control passed from one set of officers 



I 



CHANGE IN THE COMMAND. 113 

to another, and the change was distinct. The colonel 
had resigned, and now the lieutenant-colonel, and a 
little later the adjutant, resigned. They were suc- 
ceeded by Colonel Edward F. Winslow, promoted from 
Second Major, a man born for the place ; Lieutenant- 
Colonel John H. Peters, promoted from Captain of B, 
an officer of very high abilities ; and Adjutant Ambrose 
Hodge, promoted from Second Lieutenant of L, brave 
and untiring, and of great natural capacity for the 
adjutancy. On the 4th of July Colonel Winslow was 
mustered in, and on the 5th he took command of the 
regiment, relieving Major Parkell. 

Immediately there was a change in the life of the 
regiment. The indulgent methods which had prevailed 
at once disappeared. When orders were issued, some- 
body promptly appeared to see that they were executed. 
Each man found that he was expected to do his whole 
duty as a soldier, but he saw that every other man was 
required to do as well; and the natural results soon 
appeared in the cheerfulness and alacrity with which 
the work was done. Better discipline was instituted 
and steadily improved, and the best care of horses and 
equipments was persistently required. And, what 
was naturally of great influence in winning approval 
among the men of the new order of things, they saw 
that though they were held to a strict performance of 
duty, they were themselves cared for with zeal and 
constancy. Their supplies and comforts were attended 
to with a promptness and carefulness they had not 
known before ; their demand for better arms was at 
last in the way of being supplied ; and the rights and 
position of the regiment in relation to the rest of the 
army appeared to be now insisted upon and fairly 

8 



114 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

defined. Although immediately after the change of 
command the regiment marched its whole available 
force upon a campaign in which it was kept very 
busy, and in which it suffered much from the di'eadful 
heat and dust of central Mississippi in July, yet from 
the beginning, and day by day from that 4th of July, 
the advantages of the change in command became more 
and more apparent. If there was at first any doubt or 
fear as to the result, it was soon dispelled, and from 
the fall of Yicksburg till the day the regiment was 
disbanded a just confidence and pride in the high qual- 
ities of Colonel Winslow as a commander were felt by 
every man in the regiment and were increased by every 
trial. 

It must not be supposed from this that the officers 
who at that time retired were not men of ability, or 
that they had not tried to do their duty. They had all 
proved the contrary in the field and in camp, but both 
the colonel and lieutenant-colonel had suffered much 
from ill-health ; indeed, their resignations were offered 
for that reason. Officers necessarily meet peculiar and 
constant difficulties in the management of soldiers 
through the first year or two of their service. During 
that period volunteers will be sick, restless, complain- 
ing, and more or less insubordinate and shirking. 
Until they are seasoned by experience, the life is very 
irksome to them, and it is only through many troubles 
and unceasing difficulties that their officers see them 
become good and effective soldiers. If an officer who 
goes through this first period continues in command, 
he may see his men in later service working with zeal, 
cheerfulness, and increasing efficiency. So, while the 
new regimental officers are entitled to great praise for 



I 



CHANGE IN THE COMMAND. 115 



their success, it should be remembered that they 
themselves had learned much by experience, and that 
they had much improved materials to work with, — 
that is, proven soldiers, instead of green volunteers. 

Surgeon McClure had already been compelled by 
failing health to resign and return to the North. He 
had served the regiment with untiring efforts and de- 
votion from the day of his appointment. Delicate in 
conscience as well as in constitution, his unceasing 
anxieties and labors in carrying a thousand men 
through their first year of service, in the most un- 
healthful regions of the South, told too severely upon 
him. He was very successful, not only professionally, 
but in winning the respect and esteem of all in the 
regiment. Every man sincerely regretted his leaving 
the command, and still more regretted the occasion 
for it. 

Assistant-Surgeon Robinson was promoted to Sur- 
geon, and ably filled the place. He served in the field 
to the end of the war. Stephen Cummings, of Hopkin- 
ton, Iowa, was appointed from civil life to be Assistant- 
Surgeon, vice Robinson, promoted, and joined the 
regiment in June. 

It has been said that the Fourth Iowa was the only 
regiment of cavalry in Grant's army through all the 
field campaign against Vicksburg and until the siege 
was half done. About the middle of June several 
other regiments were brought down the Mississippi, 
the Second Wisconsin, the Third Iowa (six companies 
of it, with its colonel), the Fifth Illinois, and a detach- 
ment of the Eleventh Illinois. All these and the 
Fourth Iowa were thrown into a provisional brigade, 
and placed under the command of Colonel Cyrus 



ii6 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

Bussey, of the Third Iowa. For some time, however, 
the brigade organization was not much felt or seen, at 
least not by the men and subordinate officers ; and 
the regiments were encamped at some distance from 
each other. It was in August following, in the great 
raid of the brigade from Vicksburg to Memphis, that 
the Fourth Iowa first felt itself to be part of an organ- 
ized body of cavalry. Then it learned its first lesson 
in supporting and receiving the support of other cav- 
alry, and first experienced the satisfaction and realized 
the value of such support. 

On the morning of Saturday, the 4th of July, as 
soon as Grant had received the surrender of Vicks- 
burg, he sent the order to Sherman to march against 
Johnston ; and while Pemberton's men were laying 
down their arms before Grant, Sherman's were tramp- 
ing eastward, under a scorching sun, on another cam- 
paign. The cavalry was already near the Big Black, 
but much of the infantry assigned to Sherman was 
near Vicksburg. Yet, in the evening of that day, 
Sherman had nearly all his force at the bank of the 
river, ready to cross. 

It was supposed that .lohnston would resist the 
passage of the river. Only a few days before he had 
moved his army to the Big Black, west of Brownsville, 
and sent word to Pemberton that he would attack on 
the 7th. But on the 5th it appeared that he had with- 
drawn to Brownsville ; and Sherman, after some infan- 
try skirmishing, took possession of Messenger's and 
Birdsong's ferries. At each of these places he laid a 
pontoon bridge, and on the 6th all of his infantry and 
artillery were over. 

The cavalry consisted of the available men of the 



SECOND CAPTURE OF JACKSON. 117 

Third and Fourtli Iowa, Second Wisconsin, and Fifth 
Illinois, all under Colonel Bussey. The cavalry in 
Johnston's command in this campaign was Jackson's 
'division, three thousand, and Wirt Adams' independ- 
ent brigade, two thousand. The Fourth Iowa had its 
new colonel at its head. On the 6th the whole brigade 
marched down the river to Messenger's Ferry, and on 
the 'Tth crossed. It was at once placed in the advance 
of the army and moved out on the Jackson road. It 
bivouacked that night near Bolton, on Mellon's planta- 
tion, not having met the enemy during the day. 
Johnston was retreating upon Clinton. 

In his retreat he, or some one in authority in his 
army, caused the carcasses of dead animals to be 
thrown into the wells and ponds. In summer the 
water supply of that region is meagre and is furnished 
mostly by wells, cisterns, and small artificial ponds. 
"The water is bad at the best, especially so in the 
ponds, where it is usually quite yellow with mud 
made by the cattle and horses coming to drink; but 
when, in hot weather, carrion is added to it, language 
fails. But enough of the stuff to quench thirst had to 
be swallowed somehow. This trial was the harder to 
bear in the Fourth Iowa, because the physical condition 
of the men was then very low. The Vicksburg campaign 
had left not much of health in the command ; and the 
half of those who marched on this campaign could 
justly have been excused and left in the care of the 
surgeons. 

On the next day, the 8th, Bussey's brigade, the 
Third Iowa in front, moved steadily, though slowly, 
forward, on the Clinton road. In the afternoon the 
■ enemy was found, and there was some firing between 



1 1 8 STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

Ms rear and the advance of tlie Third Iowa. It was 
Jackson's cavalry, covering Johnston's retreat to Jack- 
son. The retreat continued slowly, the cavalry rear 
occasionally stopping to engage the Third Iowa skir- 
mishers, until within a mile of Clinton. Here it was 
reported that Whitfield's brigade of Jackson's com- 
mand was deployed in front, ready for battle. Colonel 
Bussey threw his whole brigade into position and sent 
a report of the situation to General Sherman. The 
enemy's line was not uncovered, however, when dark- 
ness came on ; and the brigade retired a little, and 
bivouacked for the night. In the morning Whitfield's 
men were not found, and the column moved on, 
through Clinton and toward Jackson. The Fifth Illi- 
nois was in front. A few miles east of Clinton, Whit- 
field's rear was overtaken and at once attacked by the 
advance. On both sides the brigades were thrown 
into position and advanced full lines of skirmishers. 
The rebels skirmished carefully and stubbornly, re- 
tiring slowly, until the infantry of Parke's Ninth Corps 
came up on the left of the cavalry, when the whole of 
the enemy's force fell back upon Jackson. Sherman 
immediately advanced the infantry and artillery, and 
invested the city. 

This being done, there was occasion for very active 
service on the part of the cavalry. Grant had ordered 
Sherman to destroy the Mississippi Central Railroad 
north and south, damage the enemy's means of trans- 
portation as much as possible, and make a demonstra- 
tion upon one flank or the other, as if to cross the 
Pearl River and cut oif his communications in the rear. 
General Ord, with the Thirteenth Corps, accordingly 
moved toward the river to the south of Jackson, and 



SECOND CAPTURE OE JACKSON. 119 

General Parke, with the Ninth Corps, to the north. 
A body of cavalry marched in front of each of these 
columns. Colonel Bussey's brigade being the one sent 
to the north. 

This movement was begun on the morning of the 
10th. The Fourth Iowa took the front of the column, 
and the whole brigade moved northeastward to the 
Livingston road, and thence eastward toward the 
Pearl River. Late in the afternoon the Fourth Iowa 
was detached and sent on to the Pearl, the other regi- 
ments going into camp near the Insane Asylum, a mile 
or two north of Jackson. The Fourth made a rapid 
march in the night, crossed the Central Railroad and 
destroyed the telegraph line there, reached the river 
and burned the bridge over it, returned to the railroad 
and tore it up for some distance, and finally joined the 
brigade in camp before morning. 

The next morning, all dispositions having been 
made, Sherman advanced his lines at all points, and 
opened all his artillery upon the enemy. On the right, 
by some misunderstanding, desperate assaults were 
made by Lawler's brigade of Iowa infantry, with 
severe loss and no gain. The cavalry was kept stand- 
ing to horse on the left, in rear of the artillery, until 
the middle of the afternoon, when Colonel Bussey was 
ordered to march upon Canton, about twenty-five miles 
northward. The march was without incident until ten 
o'clock at night, when the Central Railroad was reached 
again. This the Third and Fourth Iowa tore up for a 
distance of half a mile. Then, at two in the morning, 
about fifteen miles from Jackson, the brigade went 
into camp. On Sunday, the 12th, the Fourth Iowa 
marched to Calhoun Station, on the same road, and 



I20 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



destroyed two engines and eighteen cars. It returned 
to the column after a few hours, and the march upon 
Canton was resumed. A couple of miles south of 
Canton, at the crossing of Bear Creek, the enemy was 
found in position. A skirmish followed, without loss 
on our side, and Bussey, believing the enemy too 
strong for him in numbers and position, decided not to 
go farther. He posted the Fourth Iowa at the creek, 
with orders to engage the attention of the enemy, and 
marched with the remainder of the brigade westward. 

It being left to Colonel Winslow's discretion how he 
would engage the attention of the enemy, he did it by 
moving the Fourth Iowa upon them, crossing the creek 
for that purpose, and driving them into Canton. He 
was confident that the regiment could occupy the 
town, but his order was to follow the brigade after a 
short time, and he did so. The brigade was overtaken 
that evening, near Beatty's Ford on the Big Black. 
After a short rest there, the whole force marched 
south on the Brownsville road, to Vernon, and there, 
at ten o'clock, went into bivouac. At half-past three 
the next morning it set out on its return to the lines 
of the army near Jackson, and reached its former 
camp-ground near the Insane Asylum the same day. 

On the 14th a body of the enemy's cavalry, moving 
with great celerity from the vicinity of Canton, made 
an attempt upon Sherman's communications at Clinton. 
The infantry at Clinton successfully repelled this at- 
tack, and the rebel cavalry retired to Canton. Sher- 
man then ordered Bussey to march again upon Canton ; 
and placed under his command, in addition .to his own 
brigade, Woods' brigade of infantry and Landgraeber's 
battery of four light field-pieces, about two thousand 



SECOND CAPTURE OF JACKSON. 121 

men in all. The expressed objects of this march were to 
destroy factories and materiel of the enemy known to 
be at Canton, and to learn their strength in that region. 
It had Just been reported to Sherman that Jackson, 
with the main body of Johnston's cavalry, had moved 
up the east side of the Pearl, with intention to cross at 
Grant's Mills or Madisonville and make a bold attack 
upon his left. 

The cavalry set out in advance the morning of the 
16th. The march was first to Grant's Mills. Nothing 
was learned of Jackson's movement there ; and the 
Fourth Iowa and Fifth Illinois, with two j)ieces of 
artillery, were detached, placed under Colonel Win- 
slow, and sent \\\\ the river, to Madisonville. There 
were two bridges over the Pearl at that place, one a 
pontoon. The detachment marched at high speed, 
reached both bridges without being discovered, and 
destroyed them ; and then, turning westward, it joined 
Colonel Bussey at Calhoun Station that night. "While 
this was going on Johnston was evacuating the city. 
Early on the 17th Sherman found that his adversary 
had got his army safely l)eyond the Pearl. The same 
morning Bussey moved his column from Calhoun 
toward Canton. He was not yet informed of the evac- 
uation of Jackson. About nine o'clock, when approach- 
ing Bear Creek, two miles from Canton, the enemy 
appeared and resisted the march. Skirmishing was 
begun, and continued Math more or less activity until 
the middle of the afternoon, when the enemy retired 
into Canton. The artillery was brought into action 
two or three times on both sides. The Fourth Iowa 
was employed on the left throughout the aifair, and, 
under orders, several times drove back the enemy's 



122 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

right. The Union loss was fifteen killed and wounded^ 
none of whom were of the Fourth Iowa. Seventy-two 
prisoners were taken from the enemy, but their loss in 
killed and wounded was unknown. The command 
bivouacked at Briscoe's plantation, near the contested 
ground. The rebels evacuated Canton that night, 
and early the next morning, the 18th, Bussey took 
possession. 

The Fourth Iowa was sent at once to the Big Black 
Kiver, about nine miles westward, and burned the long 
railroad bridge over that river, together with a mile of 
trestle work, and all the railroad property at Way's 
Bluff, after which it returned to Briscoe's, to the camp 
of the preceding night. Meantime, the other regi- 
ments were occupied in the destruction of the many 
important factories and machine-shops at Canton, 
which had been employed in the manufacture of ma- 
terials and equipments for the rebel army. Military 
property of great value was broken up or burnt, as 
well as some locomotives and cars. 

Sherman crossed the Pearl, with the most of his 
army, and followed Johnston's retreat about twelve 
miles, to Brandon, when he decided to return to Vicks- 
burg. So the army moved slowly westward, the in- 
tense heat, the clouds of dust, the scantiness of water, 
making the march a great hardship. The cavalry 
under Bussey moved across the country from Canton, 
and, crossing the Big Black by the military bridge at 
Messenger's Feriy, went into camp a mile west of that 
point. 

The camps of the different regiments were separated, 
and that of the Fourth Iowa was on the plantation of 
a Mr. Flowers, where it remained for about three 



SECOND CAPTURE OF JACKSON. 123 

months. This was a very beautiful place. It was on 
the western border of the dense forest through which 
the Big Black slowly winds its way, occupying the 
first slight rise of the land from the river bottom. In 
the luxuriant growth of trees, shrubbery, and flowers 
on the plantation, particularly upon that part near the 
owner's residence, it was a semi-tropical scene, and all 
the appointments and adornments of the place gave 
evidence of the wealth and cultivated taste of the 
owner. But to the soldiers it was an unwholesome 
beauty, the air being as rich in miasmatic fevers and 
ague as was the soil in vegetation. General Sherman 
established his headquarters about a mile north of the 
Fourth Iowa camp; and between that time and his 
leaving the Southwest to engage in his campaign 
against Atlanta, an acquaintance grew between him 
and the regiment which was continued to the end of 
the war. From the day of the affair at Fourteen-mile 
Creek he had expected something of Winslow and the 
Fourth Iowa ; and now there was an opportunity to 
give them a better trial than they had yet had. 
Colonel Bussey was transferred to General Steele's 
department at Little Rock. The Second Wisconsin 
was detached, and the remaining regiments of cavalry 
were organized into an independent brigade, with 
Colonel Winslow in command. 

The Fourth Iowa, having no lieutenant-colonel at 
this time (Peters not having been mustered in), was 
commanded by Major Parkell. For a period of three 
weeks after going into camp at Flowers' the regiment 
did nothing better than picketing along the Big Black, 
with some foraging and scouting. It was a well-earned 
period of rest. But the unhealthfulness of the coun- 



124 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

try was a very serious drawback. The sick-list was 
very long, and the cases uncommonly obstinate. But 
all who were able, officers and men, had plenty to do. 
Colonel Winslow, with zealous persistence, pursued 
the course he had laid out for making the most of the 
regiment; and careful discipline, strict attention to 
orders, the care of horses and equipments, had now be- 
come familiar phrases of very practical import. 

The improvement thus gained was soon to be tested. 
On Sunday, the 9th of August, there was great activity 
in the camp. All the men of the brigade who had 
serviceable horses were warned to be ready to march 
under this order : 

Head Qrs. 15th Army Corps, 
Camp on Big Black, Aug. 8, 1863. 
Colonel E. F. Winslow, 

4th Iowa Cavalry. 
Sir: 

In pursuance of Special Orders No. 156 of the 6th inst., 
you will take command of the Cavalry Force designated in 
those orders, and start on the loth instant for the north. 
You will strike for the lower Benton Road, and follow it to 
Mechanicsburg, and thence to Yazoo City. There you will 
find a gunboat and a supply of provisions, with which you 
can replenish. After a short rest, keeping well quiet as to 
your destination, proceed to Lexington and then strike the 
great Central Railroad, and ascertain, if possible, if the 
locomotives and cars belonging to the road are still above 
Grenada. At our last accounts there were between Grenada 
and Water Valley an immense number of locomotives (70) 
and near five hundred cars. 

If you find any locomotives below Grenada, you will en- 
deavor to have them and all cars .sent up to and above 
Grenada; and you will proceed to that place with your 
cavalry. 



FROM VICKSBURG TO MEMPHIS. 125 

General Grant has ordered a force from Memphis to meet 
you at or near Grenada. Communicate with him as soon as 
possible, and with your joint forces use all possible efforts to 
get these cars and locomotives into Memphis. 

I take it for granted that parties are now employed in re- 
pairing the track out from Memphis, and that you will find 
everything done on that end of the road. You know that 
we have so crippled the road from Canton south, that no 
railroad stock can be carried off by the enemy, and therefore 
we have no interest in destroying it ; and therefore you 
will confine your labors and efforts to save it by running 
it toward and into Memphis. You will find plenty of 
engineers and conductors whom you can employ, or, if 
necessary, use force to compel them to work their engines 
and trains. 

I am satisfied all of Jackson's cavalry is at or near Bran- 
don, east of the Pearl. If any detachments have been 
made they are toward Natchez. The Memphis forces will 
of course drive out of that neighborhood all of Chalmers' 
men and other (detachments of guerillas, more intent on col- 
lecting conscripts than on fighting. No matter what force 
you meet, attack promptly and resolutely ; and so handle 
your forces that they cannot count your numbers. Do not 
stay in Grenada, but occupy the bank of the Yallobusha, the 
other side of Grenada, till you are in communication with 
the Memphis forces. After which, act according to your 
judgment. 

You carry money with you, and it is now to the interest 
of our Government that all plundering and pillaging should 
cease. Impress this on your men from the start, and let 
your Chief Quartermaster and Commissary provide liberally 
and fairly for the wants of your command by paying. 
Union people and the poor farmers, without being too 
critical as to politics, should be paid for their corn, bacon, 
beef, and vegetables. But where the larger planters and 
farmers have an abundance and to spare, you can take of 
the surplus, giving in all such cases a simple receipt, signed 



126 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

by your Chief Quartermaster or Commissar}'. Also, when 
your horses break down you can take a remount, exchan- 
ging the broken-down animal and giving a certificate of the 
transaction, fixing the cash difference in value. Deal firmly 
but fairly with the inhabitants. I am satisfied a change of 
feeling is now going on in this State, and we should en- 
courage it. Much importance is attached to this branch of 
the subject, and you will see that every officer and man is 
informed of it. Punish on the spot and with rigor any wan- 
ton burning of houses or property without your specific 
order. 

If at Grenada you find the Memphis force fully competent 
to the task of saving the railroad stock enumerated, you can 
return via Yazoo City, but if there be any doubt, remain 
with them and go on into Memphis, and return to my com- 
mand by the river. On your application, the Quartermaster, 
Captain Eddy, will furnish boats. Report to me by letter 
as often as possible, either by the route you go, or around 
by way of Memphis. 

I enclose you the best map we are able to compile. Add 
to it as you progress ; and on your return I shall expect it 
to be well filled with roads and names of localities not now 
on it. 

With great respect, 

W. T. Sherman, 

Major-General Commanding. 

This order is given in full, partly because the raid 
made under it was very successful, and j)ai'tly because 
it refers to the policy wMcli the government attempted 
to inaugurate in 1863, after the victories at Gettysburg 
and Yicksburg — a j)olicy of conciliation toward the 
people of the South wherever they might come within 
reacb of our armies. For nearly two years the Union 
armies had, with very limited exceptions, found only 
enemies along their lines of invasion; but it was be- 



FROM VICKSBURG TO MEMPHIS. 127 

lieved now that the great disasters of the year had so 
disheartened and sobered the Southerners, that a policy 
of considerateness and respect for property would, at 
least in the minds of many, turn the scale against the 
Confederacy. The order was in that respect (as indeed 
in all respects) faithfully carried out on this raid ; but, 
as the country traversed could not be occupied, not 
much evidence could be gathered as to its practical 
effect. 

The probability is that the terrorism which was 
maintained by armed Secessionists in all parts of the 
South, over all citizens suspected of cherishing any 
Union sentiment, was quite enough to prevent the 
average Southerner from saying anything against the 
Confederacy or in favor of the Union, even though his 
pocket had just been filled by Union officers with good 
money for his corn and horses. It is more than probable 
that in any seceded State, at any time after the fall of 
Sumter, the expression of Union sentiment was confined 
strictly to the limited territory that was covered by 
Union guns. 

Early in the morning of the 10th of August, the 
raiding column moved out on the road to the north. 
There were about 800 officers and men from the Third 
and Fourth Iowa and the Fifth Illinois. Major Noble, 
of the Third Iowa, was the second officer in rank. The 
Fourth Iowa turned out 375 officers and men under 
Major Parkell. All was in good order, only the best con- 
ditioned men and horses being taken, but the cavalry 
arms were still inefficient. A part of the men had 
Sharp's and Union carbines, which were fairly good 
for that time, but among the others were distributed 
a variety of cavalry guns, inferior in range and poor in 



128 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

construction, which one would guess the War Depart- 
ment had never carefully examined or tested. Indeed^ 
up to that time a large part of the Fourth Iowa had 
received no carbines at all, and carried only pistol and 
sabre. 

Only two days' rations were taken, as it was ex- 
pected, according to Sherman's order, that there would 
be received at Yazoo City as much more as it might be 
found expedient to carry. That would not be much, 
for it was intended to march in the lightest order pos- 
sible. The weather was hot, the marches might be 
unusually long, the dust would be a trial to man and 
beast, and great activity of movement might at any 
time be required. There was never a lighter column. 
There was no train, not a wagon, not even an ambu- 
lance or a pack-mule. 

The march was by way of the familiar village of 
Mecliauicsburg ; and the first day eighteen miles were 
made by one o'clock, when the command went into 
camp. The next day it Avas through Mechanicsburg 
and on to Koach's plantation, another place familiar to 
the regiment. Early on the 12th Yazoo City was 
reached ; but no gunboat was there, nor any Federal 
force. There had been some infantry there, as Sher- 
man had understood, but, for some unexplained 
reason, it had all gone down the Yazoo on steamers 
two days before, whether with the idea of returning 
or of remaining away no one there knew. This unex- 
pected circumstance seemed to present a very serious 
difficulty. There were no rations for men or animals, 
the corn in the fields was not yet ripe, and a march to 
Grenada, perhaps to Memphis, would keep the com- 
mand many days in a country unknown to all. 



FROM VICKSBURG TO MEMPHIS. 129 

Winslow assembled all the commissioned officers of 
the command, read to them General Sherman's letter 
of instructions, and requested theii' advice. The ques- 
tion was whether to go forward or to return if no 
supplies should arrive. The officer youngest in rank 
was asked to speak first, and he advised a return. All 
the others voted the same way. Winslow did not ex- 
press an opinion. He sent a man down the road along 
the Yazoo, on a strong mule, with orders to ride hard 
and as far as he possibly could and return by four 
o'clock the next morning. This scout went as far as 
the town of Satartia, about twenty miles down the 
river, and returned at the hour named. He had seen 
neither steamboat nor troops, but had learned that 
they had passed below Satartia, presumably on their 
return to Vicksburg. 

The enemy's headquarters at this time were at Can- 
ton, about twenty-five miles east from Yazoo City. It 
was learned that several cavalry commands were in that 
vicinity, numbering some thousands in all. Winslow 
decided to go on, and to make a forced march to the 
north of Canton, so as to leave all the rebel cavalry 
well to the rear the first day. Immediately on the 
return and report of the scout, at daylight on the 13th, 
the column was put in motion toward Lexington. 
Marching at the highest speed consistent with proper 
care, thirty miles were made before night, and the 
command bivouacked at Harlan's Creek. The next 
morning at eight it was in Lexington. Leaving the 
Third Iowa there,' under Major Noble, to procure 
rations, Winslow marched with the other regiments 
eastward, by Castilian Springs, to the railroad (Missis- 
sippi Central), and arrived at Durant Station just in 



1 30 STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMEN T. 

time to intercept and capture two trains from the 
north, with a number of prisoners. These trains were 
to be the first to run to Canton over the new bridge 
which the rebels had Just finished on the Big Black in 
the place of the one destroyed by the Fourth Iowa on 
the 18th of July. The telegraph lines were cut, the 
railroad destroyed, and, Major Noble having come up 
with the Third Iowa, the march was resumed north- 
ward. The bivouac at night was at Jordan's Creek, 
after thirty-two miles made that day, not to speak of 
the additional work of destroying property and recon- 
noitring. The raiders now had control of the rail- 
road, and the march lay along its line. 

Captain Peters, of the Fourth Iowa, had been put in 
charge of train service, with instructions to gather up 
all the engines and cars on the line and run them north. 
He first ran an engine south of Durant, five miles, and 
burnt the bridge on the road at that point. Then he 
moved north, taking along all engines and cars, and 
keeping up communication with the marching column. 
Volunteer engineers, firemen, and trainmen were found 
in the command, who, with those captured on the line 
and forced into service, kept up the movement of 
trains until the command arrived near Grenada. As 
each station on the railroad was reached, the track or 
the nearest bridge south of it was destroyed, so that, 
if it should become necessary to abandon any of the 
rolliug-stock temporarily, it could not be run south by 
the enemy. Then all the rolling-stock was moved to 
the next station. But the accumulation soon became 
very great. For miles the track was occupied by loco- 
motives and cars, and it was a serious reduction of the 
fighting column to furnish the men required to run the 



FROM VICKSBURG TO MEMPHIS. 131 



trains. And of course each, man on the cars left a 
horse in the column to be cared for by another man. 
It was the intention to march all the night of the 15th, 
but tremendous and prolonged thunder-storms came 
on, with floods of water, and after a struggle until 
midnight in deep darkness and in increasing mud and 
water, a halt was ordered. To this day the men who 
were in that storm speak of it as a marvel in nature. 
The terrific, continuous crashing of thunder, the inces- 
sant, fearful flashing of lightning on all sides, the 
torrents of falling water, and the dense darkness in 
the intervals of blinding light exceeded anything they 
have ever known. The halt was near West Station. It 
was impossible to go farther that night, but the march 
was resumed early in the morning. More engines and 
cars were found and run forward. So many were now 
in hand that the management of them required, in one 
way or another, the attention of the whole column, and 
there was no rest for any one. 

All through the night of the 16th the march went 
on, and at daybreak the station at Winona was reached. 
The rebels then appeared in front. They had destroyed 
a bridge on the railroad north of Winona, but they 
were either too weak in numbers, or too timid, to 
attack. Up to the 16th there had been no fighting, 
except a little skirmishing. The sudden appearance in 
the middle of the State of a body of Yankee cavalry 
must have been surprising to the rebels, and the move- 
ment of the column was in the first days so rapid that 
any information of its position was in a short time 
contradicted by its appearance elsewhere. When the 
railroad was cut, however, and the rolling-stock disap- 
peared northward, the design was understood, and 



132 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

pursuing forces appeared iu the rear. But the quality 
of boldness in the movement was itself worth many 
men ; and the enemy, at least at first, much exagger- 
ated the number of the raiders. The j)ursuing column 
was therefore so large and moved with such caution 
that it accomplished nothing. As the raiders were 
hampered and delayed by the train work, and by 
the condition of their horses, jaded by long marches 
and suffering from the in-egularity and inferior quality 
of food, a light brigade of the rebels, by forced march- 
ing and resolute attack, could have given very serious 
trouble. 

On the 16th and afterward until Grenada was 
reached, the rear-guard was kept busy watching the 
pursuing rebels, sometimes turning to fire upon or 
skirmish with them. They showed themselves only 
in small bodies, occasionally making a dash upon the 
rear-guard, apparently operating independently of the 
larger column following which never came in sight. 

The captured rolling-stock could not be run north 
of Winona without rebuilding the bridge the rebels 
had destroyed. It was reported that there was a force 
of the enemy posted at Grenada, still twenty miles 
distant, and there was no news yet of the co-operating 
column from Tennessee. It was important that 
Grenada should be taken at the earliest moment. If 
it could be held by the enemy, not only would the 
captured property be lost, but the raiding column 
would be in great peril. Winslow decided to leave 
the cars at Winona, as if abandoned, push on and take 
Grenada, hold that place until the arrival of the 
Tennessee cavalry, and meantime send a detachment 
down the railroad to i-epair the bridge at Winona and 



FROM VICKSBURG TO MEMPHIS. 133 

bring up the trains. This movement was immediately 
undertaken. The column arrived at Duck Hill, about 
eight miles south of Grrenada, by the middle of the 
afternoon of the lYth. The horses were so much jaded 
that the march was necessarily slow. 

The attacks upon the rear became bolder, and now 
the enemy appeared also in front. It was better in 
every way to fight those in front. The column was 
well closed up, and the head of it pushed on without 
stopping. The rebels kept up a continuous fire, but, 
whenever they showed any disposition to stand, they 
were at once assailed with determined spirit, and 
driven, with a view to give them no time to refomi. 
As they fell back always on the Grenada road, there 
was much anxiety as to whether they meant to defend 
that place and as to whether they had force enough 
to do it. If they could hold Grenada, they might 
prevent the junction of the two Union columns. But, 
within a few miles of the town, at BeiTy Creek, they 
fell off to the east and disappeared. 

The column thereupon marched directly in, having 
made thirty-two miles that day, mth almost continual 
skirmishing. On approaching the town in the dark- 
ness fires were seen, lighting the skies in different 
directions. Winslow sent a staff officer with the 
advance guard, to learn and report the cause ; but he 
was himself soon in the streets, where he met Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel Phillips, who had arrived a few hours 
before from Lagrange, Tennessee, with two cavalry 
brigades. Phillips had found some of Jackson's 
cavalry at Grenada, and had driven them out, but not 
until they had burned the two railroad bridges just 
north of the town, one over the Yallobnsha and the 



134 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

other over a tributary creek. Expecting to be attacked 
if he should remain there, he was engaged in destroy- 
ing the cars, engines, and other railroad property, 
intending to leave for the north as soon as possible, 
without waiting for the column from Vicksburg. In 
fact, his men had nearly all recrossed to the north of 
the Yallobusha, with that purpose, when Winslow's 
column arrived. The fires had been caused by the 
carelessness or indifference of Phillips' men, who, in 
destroying the railroad property, had permitted the 
fire to spread to private houses. 

Winslow assumed command of all the troops. The 
mayor and citizens being too much frightened and dis- 
tressed to make any efficient efforts to put out the 
fires, the soldiers were ordered to direct and help them. 
Soldiers and citizens were soon working zealously to- 
gether, and the fires were limited to the buildings 
which had already caught. Order was restored and 
the fears of the people dispelled. The captured city 
had learned its first lesson in war. Grant had again 
and again, in 1862, planned the capture of the place, 
and had more than once led or sent a force against it, 
but without success. In December, 1862, the Fourth 
Iowa had got very near it, in a demonstration made 
from Helena, under Hovey and Washburn, but had 
not seen it. 

There were now about three thousand cavalry at 
Grenada, all without provisions or forage, and all 
much fatigued. Winslow decided to remain a day or 
two, to rest and procure supplies. By his direction, 
the mayor, at midnight, assembled the leading citizens, 
and each family in the town was ordered to deliver 
the next day at Brown's Hotel all the bread that 



ROM VICKSBURG TO MEMPHIS. 135 

could be made in the meautime. This was done, and 
a portion of meat was taken wherever it could be 
spared. All these provisions, as well as those taken 
before, were paid for under Sherman's order, except 
such as plainly were or would become the supplies of 
the enemy. 

The Third Iowa was placed in occupation of the 
town, with its commander. Major Noble, as Provost- 
Marshal, and all the other troops were encamped north 
of the Yallobusha. On examination, it was found that 
a large part of the rolling-stock at Grenada had been 
so much damaged by Phillips that it could not be 
used and that the bridges north of the town could not 
be rebuilt without an expenditure of time and ma- 
terials impossible under the circumstances. It was 
certain that Jackson's brigades of the enemy's cavalry 
were moving in pursuit from the south ; and it was 
reported that there was another body of cavalry near 
Panola, north of Grenada, under Ruggles, which could 
intercept the march to Memphis. It seemed quite 
impracticable to save the rolling-stock taken at Gre- 
nada or that left at Winona ; and, with much reluctance, 
it had to be admitted that one of the principal objects 
of the expedition was defeated. There was no help 
for it. The work of destruction begun by Phillips 
was completed. Seventy locomotives, over three hun- 
dred cars, and other railway properties in proportion, 
were broken up and burnt. It was afterward learned 
that the railway bridges farther north, over the Talla- 
hatchie and Cold water rivers, had also been destroyed, 
so that the difficulties in the way of completing the 
enterprise were even greater than they had appeared 
to be at Grenada, 



136 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



On the second morning, Wednesday, the 19th, the 
railway property having all been destroyed, men and 
horses having had rest and plenty of food, and some 
days' provisions having been gathered and distributed 
to the whole force, the march was resumed to the 
northward. Movement was, naturally, slower than it 
had been south of Grrenada, but the enemy was not 
met. The country was desolate. It had been har- 
assed and swept by hostile armies for more than a 
year. Along the principal roads it was as if one were 
following the path of a great fire. After two or three 
days' march, crossing the Tallahatchie at Panola, where 
it was supposed the enemy would be found, and find- 
ing no enemy in force, Winslow parted with Phillips' 
brigade, which then set out directly toward Lagrange, 
in Tennessee, returning to its camp, while his own 
brigade moved northwest, toward Hernando, bound 
for Memphis. At the Cold water River, near Hernando, 
in the afternoon of Friday, the 21st, a body of rebels, 
on the northern bank, undertook to hold the bridge. 
The Third Iowa, at the head of the column, was dis- 
mounted, placed in the fallen timber along the southern 
bank, and ordered to fire upon the enemy across the 
river. This was intended to occupy their attention 
for a time. Major Farnan, with the Fifth Illinois, was 
sent down the river, with orders to cross half a mile 
below, get into their rear, and capture them. The 
Fourth Iowa, being in the rear of the brigade, was 
brought up to increase the fire, while a feint was made 
to cross in the face of the enemy. But the plan was 
probably suspected. The enemy retired before Major 
Farnan could reach his position. While this was going 
on, a party of the rebels busied themselves in an 



FROM VICKSBURG TO MEMPHIS. 137 



irregular firing upon the rear, but without any effect 
except in wounding a few horses. 

The brigade immediately crossed the river, and a 
detachment was sent after the rebels who had held the 
bank, with the purpose to drive them and to learn 
whether they were in communication with any stronger 
force. But they could not be overtaken within several 
miles, and there being no indication of the presence of 
any others on that side of the river, the brigade went 
into bivouac on the high ground near the river. The 
Third Iowa had four men wounded in the fight across 
the river, none dangerously, while the other regiments 
suffered no loss. 

There was no further appearance of the enemy, and 
the next morning the brigade moved leisurely toward 
Memphis, about twenty-five miles distant. Long halts 
were made to relieve the weary men and animals, so 
that Memphis was not reached until the following day, 
the 23d. There the brigade remained in bivouac until 
the 29th. 

General Grant was at Memphis at that time, and 
Colonel Winslow reported to him for orders, giving an 
account of the operations and incidents of the expedi- 
tion. Grant was much gratified, and directed that the 
command return to Vicksburg by steamboats, with 
leave to " take it easy." But as soon as boats could be 
cleared, the brigade was shipped, and, landing at 
Vicksburg on the 31st, the men reached their camp at 
Flowers' plantation the same day. One of the boats, 
the Madison., having several companies of the Fourth 
Iowa aboard, ran aground, and was delayed so long in 
getting off that her passengers did not reach the camp 
till the 1st of September. The Third Iowa detachment 



138 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

was debarked at Helena, by special leave of General 
Grant, in order tliat tlie two parts of the regiment, 
which had long been separated, might be reunited. In 
the spring following, however, at Memphis, the whole 
of the Third was again brigaded with the Fourth. 

This raid, or more properly expedition, deserves to 
rank as one of the first of the war. The column 
of only eight hundred men had marched two hundred 
and sixty-five miles, almost wholly through the ene- 
my's country, had killed and wounded many of the 
enemy, had captured 55, had brought to Memphis 25 
skilled engineers and mechanics, whose services were 
greatly needed by the enemy, and had destroyed an 
immense quantity of railroad property, making the 
Mississippi Central useless to the enemy for a long 
time. Private property had been respected, the men 
having committed no excesses, having entered not one 
house from Vicksburg to Grenada, except on duty; 
all supplies taken from private persons had been paid 
for ; and the losses had been only 2 killed, 5 wounded, 
and 6 missing.^ 

The two brigades which had come from Tennessee 
under Phillips, not having instructions similar to those 
given to Winslow (as Sherman understood they were 
to have), had pursued the usual course, living on the 
country as far as possible and taking animals and 
forage wherever found, without compensation. This 
conflict of policy between the two columns was un- 
fortunate, and the good effect of the careful conduct of 
Winslow's command between Vicksburg and Grenada 
must have been in part counteracted by the hostile 
treatment of the people north of Grenada by Phillips^^ 
command. 

' See Appendix : " Engagements and Casualties." 



LESSER MOVEMENTS IN MISSISSIPPI. 139 

General Sherman heartily approved of the manage- 
ment of the expedition, and soon afterward appointed 
Winslow Chief of Cavalry. He expressed his approval 
then and in a letter he afterward wrote to Winslow.^ 

The six missing were from the Fourth Iowa. One of 
them, Charles H. Smith, of C, escaped from his captors 
and rejoined at Memphis ; two others, Caleb J. Allen, of 
A, and James M. Carson, of H, died of ill treatment in 
prison, and three were exchanged and returned to service. 

An episode of this Grenada expedition especially 
interesting to the men of the Fourth Iowa, because the 
subject of it came to be well known and liked in the 
regiment, was that of John Buck ; and it serves well 
to illustrate the vindictive cruelty often shown by 
Southerners of that day. At his plantation, two 
days out from Vicksbui-g, Buck was met. He was a 
good citizen and a man of property. He was said to 
be a Union man, and probably was one until the 
fighting began. There was a very large number of 
Union men in the South up to the fall of Sumter; 
after that they were compelled by the active rebels to 
take the Secessionists' side, or hold their peace and 
dissemble. Buck was intelligent and was well ac- 
quainted with the country through which the pro- 
posed line of march lay. Winslow asked him to go 
along, expecting his information and advice to be of 
value in respect to the roads and the adjacent country. 
Buck objected strongly, but he was compelled to go. 
He rode with the column to Memphis, though he ren- 
dered no service except in giving information as to the 
roads to be marched and watched. Indeed, his pres- 
ence with the column was probably of more value to 

' See p. 165. 



I40 STOR Y OF A CA VALR V REGIMENT. 

tlie citizens along the road than to the Union cavalry, 
in connection with the policy Winslow was trying to 
apply, of conciliating and protecting the people. 

He returned with the regiment to Vicksburg, with 
the purpose of going thence to his home at Lexington, 
and early in September he passed the lines for that 
purpose. He had made many friends in the regiment, 
and they advised him not to go yet ; but his anxiety to 
see his family controlled him. He had not gone far 
beyond the Union pickets when he was arrested. He 
was taken to General Whitfield, who was then at Ver- 
non, in command of a brigade of rebels known as the 
Texas Cavalry, composed in part of the Third, Sixth, 
and Ninth Texas regiments. Whitfield immediately 
ordered him hung to the nearest tree, and it was done. 
There was not even the form of a trial or examination, 
nor any time permitted for explanation or defense. It 
was enough that he was said to be a Union man, and 
that he had, though under compulsion, acted as guide 
for Union troops. It was by methods such as this, 
very commonly practised,, that Secessionists had de- 
stroyed the influence of Union sentiments in the 
Southern States and made it practicable for the Con- 
federate government to maintain a military despotism 
as complete and absolute as any in history. 

Another incident of this expedition, though of more 
interest to the two immediately concerned than to any 
one else, ought to be recorded. As the troops did not 
get the rations they were to have from the boats at 
Yazoo City, they were compelled throughout the 
march to live upon the country. Flour was found at 
mills along the way, but many of the companies or 
messes were Avithout utensils for making bread. The 



LESSER MOVEMENTS IN MISSISSIPPI. 141 

men got along as best they could, eating green corn 
from tlie fields by day, and at niglit borrowing from 
eacli otlier tlie few frying-pans and metal utensils tliat 
were to be liad for making bread. At Grenada, tlie 
command remaining in camp one day, a mess of C 
thouglit it a good time to find a frying-pan or otlier 
vessel for cooking flapjacks. Charles H. Smith (after- 
ward a lieutenant in the company) and James H. 
Davidson were detailed by their messmates to look 
for the treasure. Leaving their horses to rest, they 
mounted mules, rode into Grrenada, and went to all the 
stores and a number of private houses, but without 
success. Then they rode out of the town eastward, 
of course supposing themselves still to be within the 
picket line. They had hardly got beyond the town, 
with eyes upon a house where they hoped to find the 
frying-pan, when from the bushes they heard the sharp 
order ^^Halt ! Surrender I " A party of rebels, about 
twenty, who had been concealed near the road, now 
stood up and presented shotguns and rifles at short 
range. On those slow mules and at that distance 
there was no hope of escape for the Yankees. They 
surrendered. The rebels immediately mounted and 
hurried their prisoners away southeastward, taking 
from them theii* arms and all equipments. They rode 
rapidly ten miles without stopping, though they had 
no other prisoners and no occasion for apprehension. 
The captain then ordered a halt, and had supper pre- 
pared for his men at a farm-house. He made no 
provision for his prisoners, but the old lady who 
seemed to be mistress at the house offered them food, 
notwithstanding she said she knew that they had come 
south to kill the women and children. The march 



142 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

was continued that niglit, with the expectation of join- 
ino- Chalmers' command, but that was not accomplished 
until the night following. Meantime Smith and 
Davidson had been dismounted and were compelled 
to hurry along afoot. In a conversation Avith Colonel 
McCulloch, of Chalmers' division, whom they met, 
they were much interested to hear that his men had 
counted Winslow's column on its march to Grenada, 
and that it numbered eight hundred. The prisoners 
had said, in reply to McCulloch's inquiry, that there 
were two thousand, but he insisted that there were 
only eight hundred. No doubt the column had really 
been counted at some point near Grenada. 

Four other prisoners from other commands were 
added, and a captain and twenty men were detailed to 
take the squad of six to West Point, Miss., whence 
they were to be sent by rail to some prison camp. 
The captain's name was Hill and he rode a fine horse. 
His men and the prisoners went afoot. For two days 
they marched about twenty-five miles a day, and on 
the evening of August 21st, the fourth day from Gre- 
nada, they camped not far from West Point. 

Of course our two captives had been all the time 
studying plans of escape, and, as they heard they were 
to be put into a railway car the next day, this night 
seemed to be the last chance. The night before, they 
had slept in a cabin, upon a floor of heavy, loose planks, 
a couple of feet above the ground. Smith had raised 
one of the planks in the night, and had undertaken to 
slip through, when his movement disturbed the geese 
and hogs domiciled under the house, and he was afraid 
to go further. He gave it up, and contrived to replace 
the plank without exciting suspicion. 



LESSER MOVEMENTS IN MISSISSIPPI. 143 

This last night they were quartered in a log school- 
house. The south end was a close wall, with a fire- 
place and chimney. In the north end was a long, 
horizontal opening, answering for a window, but 
without a sash. It was rather low, and just under it 
was a long desk fastened against the wall. On the 
east side was a door. The prisoners were directed to 
lie on the floor near the fire-place. Those of the 
guard not on immediate duty occupied the remainder 
of the floor, with two or three lying on the long desk. 
A sentinel stood in the doorway, gun in hand. The 
corporal of the guard posted himself at a fire three 
yards in front of the door, and it was to be presumed 
that there were other sentinels about the house. The 
sentinel in the door seemed to be quite able to keep 
awake. 

It was two hundred miles to the Union lines, either 
at Vicksburg.or in Tennessee, and the rebel cavalry 
was constantly moving through the intervening country. 
The chance of successful escape seemed very small 
indeed. Smith tried hard to keep awake, intending to 
seize even the smallest chance of escape, but, exhausted 
by fatigue, he fell asleep. Suddenly he awoke, his 
mind intensely strained by his purpose. The sentinel 
at the door was awake. At that moment he asked 
the corporal of the guard what time it was, and the 
corporal answered two o'clock. The chance was so 
desperate, at the best, that it seemed to Smith not 
right to involve another in the attempt, and, as David- 
son was asleep, he decided not to awake him. The 
room was dark, except as lighted dimly and fitfully 
from the low fire outside. He took his blouse and 
boots in one hand, stepped with great care over the 



144 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

bodies of the other prisoners and the rebels on the 
floor, and reached the desk under the opening or 
window in the wall, without having made any noise. 
He could see that the sentinel in the door was facing 
toward the fire. He had passed within six feet of 
him. Then he managed to creep over the desk, 
between the rebels lying on its top, and through the 
window opening. He dropped to the ground, and 
saw the captain's fine horse tied near. He found the 
saddle and bridle, put them on, and led the horse 
straight away into the woods. It is amazing that 
he was neither seen nor heard. Within a short 
distance he stopped, listened, and mounted ; but the 
saddle girth broke, and he had to stop long enough 
to mend it. What intense excitement and anxiety 
he must have felt in those lost moments ! He 
mounted again and walked the horse northward until 
he thought it safe to make the noise of galloping. Then 
he set out at high speed, following the road by which 
he had come. He kept on rapidly the rest of the night 
in the road, but at daybreak took to the woods and 
worked steadily northward, through forests and swamps. 
Captain Hill's haversack, found on the saddle, fur- 
nished him a little food, but that night hunger com- 
pelled him to apply at a house for more. He pretended 
to be a courier from the Confederate general, Chalmers, 
and was not suspected. He found he had made thirty- 
five miles in the right direction. He pushed on through 
that night, right along the main road, and even called 
at a house and waked a man, to ask about his route. 
This man was not easily satisfied, and Smith was 
alarmed. He hurried away, determined to depend only 
upon the north star for information after that. So he 



LESSER MOVEMENTS IN 2MISSISSIFFI. 145 

kept on, riding by night in the roads as far as it 

appeared to him safe, and making slow progress 

through tangled woods and swamps by day. He fed 

his horse with green corn when he could. Once he 

ran unexpectedly upon a house, seeing it too late to 

retire. He made the best of the case by going up and 

asking for food. He even waited while the mistress 

made and baked some bread for him. This woman 

said he was a Yankee, and he found it hard to quiet 

her suspicion ; but she told him there was a large body 

of rebels at Pontotoc and another at Redland, towns 

about eight miles distant on either hand, and that there 

were two regiments at Randolph, a town about six 

miles northward. Unwilling to take the time to make 

the circuit around these bodies of the enemy, he risked 

going between them. He kept close in the woods, and 

carefully reconnoitred every road he found he must 

cross. During the next day he saw, on different roads, 

several parties of rebel soldiers, but managed to escape 

observation ; and at night he took the highway again. 

Fortunately the horse was a good traveller and kept 

up well. Near morning he lay down to sleep and rest 

his horse, but at daylight he was startled from sleep 

by the baying of bloodhounds. He supposed they 

were after him, and hurried away in a state of mind 

that may be imagined. Every Union soldier had heard 

of the terrible uses to which bloodhounds were put by 

the Southerners. But the fugitive did not hear them 

again, and it is probable that they were in pursuit of 

other game. When he reached the Tallahatchie River 

he could not cross it, the bank being so miry that he 

could not reach the water with his horse. He went 

down the river about eight miles before he ventured a 
10 



146 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

crossing. The horse was neai'ly lost in the mire at the 
Avater's edge, but struggled through and swam across. 
That night, in going over a ridge, he came suddenly 
upon the camp-fires of a large rebel force. He heard 
the noises of the camp, but for some reason the pickets 
had not heard the tread of his horse. He retired 
quietly, and undertook to go around the camp, but, be- 
coming entangled in a swamp, he lost his course and came 
up to the same camp on another side. He was warned 
by his horse, which stopped suddenly and stood still. 
Then he saw two rebel videttes in the road, and heard 
them talking. He backed out, but again lost himself 
in the swamps ; and, worn out by fatigue, he lay down 
till daylight. Then he carefully reconnoitred, located 
the camp, and again pushed northward through the 
woods. About noon he came to a deserted road run- 
ning the right way for him. He took the risk, and 
rapidly made ten miles on that road without seeing any 
one. He now hoped soon to see Union videttes, and 
his anxiety impelled him to try to learn, by inquiry at 
a house, the shortest course to the Union lines. He 
went to a house which happened to be occupied by a 
preacher and his family. The preacher told him that 
there were bands of Yankees roaming about the coun- 
try, and gave him plenty of advice how to avoid them, 
and, being pleased to have a good listener, he invited him 
to eat the remains of the family dinner of pork and 
beans and " corn-dodgers," with " peach-cobbler " for 
dessert. It was the first full meal he had after his 
capture. He ate all he could, and, having an eye to 
the future, watched his chance slyly to slip the re- 
mainder of the pork and " dodgers " into his bosom. 
The man told him it was twenty miles to Holly 



LESSER MOVEMENTS IN MISSISSIPPI. 147 

Springs, and tliat he ^vould probably meet a body of 
heroes on the way; but, as the talk went on, it ap- 
peared the heroes were a party of "bushwhackers," 
whose heroic occupation was the murdering of Union 
soldiers from ambuscade. The wretch told mth glee 
some of the exploits of his savage friends in killing 
Union men and Union soldiers, always by stealth. 
There were many such devil-like s]3irits in the South, 
particularly in Mississippi. 

The lost raider now moved toward Holly Springs, in 
the hope of finding it a Union post ; and, his remarka- 
ble success up to this time giving him confidence, he 
took the main road. Several times he met rebels, 
among them a colonel, but on his salute and some 
commonplace inquiry, all of them passed him without 
concern. At dark he crossed the Tippah River. Go- 
ing up the hill on the northern side, his horse suddenly 
stood still, as he had done on approaching the rebel 
camp the night before. Again he heard the voices of 
men ahead. A silent search disclosed a rebel picket, 
with camp-fires beyond. A long circuit was made, 
through woods covering high hills, and the rest of the 
night was spent partly in the road and partly in the 
woods, still pressing forward. The fatigue of both 
man and horse must have been very great. It was the 
fourth day of the flight, and they had been nearly all 
the time in motion, only two or three hours a day being 
spent in sleep. It was now the 25th, and the regiment 
had been two days at Memphis. That morning the 
fugitive ran upon a party of five rebel soldiers lounging 
about a house by the roadside. He talked with them 
without attracting any special attention, representing 
himself as one of McCulloch's Second Missouri Cav- 



148 STOJi Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

airy, a regiment known to be below, and said he was 
now on furlough. Then he met a boy in the road, 
who said that there were no Yankees at Holly Springs, 
but that some of "our men" were there, and that it 
was twenty-five miles to the nearest Yankees, at La- 
grange, in Tennessee. Then he met two of " Mitchell's 
Guerillas," a notorious band infesting that region, and 
found them very inquisitive. Getting away from them, 
he decided to risk no more encounters in the road, and 
took to the woods. Passing some miles to the left of 
Holly Springs, he reached the Lagrange road before 
dark. This made the end of his perilous journey seem 
near and increased his energy. Early in the night a 
small town was reached. He was afraid to go through, 
and tried a circuit. A long ride around ended at the 
same town. It was about midnight and all still. He 
took the risk and rode through, seeing no one. Later 
he found he could not keep awake on his horse, and, 
as that added new dangers to his situation, he con- 
cealed himself and fell asleep on the ground. That 
was unfortunate. He slept longer than usual, and 
awoke late in the morning. Then pushing on, he soon 
saw a place where there had been a camp only the 
night before. Examining the ground, he found that 
the campers were Union soldiers. If he had only kept 
on a few miles instead of going to sleep ! 

In much disappointment and anxiety he urged on 
his weary horse, and soon learned that he was right in 
his belief that Yankees were near, but he could not fix 
their position, though he ventured to inquire of several 
persons he met. He found now that he was on a road 
to Mount Pleasant, the headquarters of Mitchell's 
band of savages, and fifteen miles yet from Lagrange.. 



LESSER MOVEMENTS IN MISSISSIPPI. 149 

Avoiding Mount Pleasant and taking the most north- 
erly road, regardless of exposure in his great anxiety, 
he rode right for Lagrange. When he knew he must 
be within two or three miles of the Union pickets, he 
saw four men ahead, mounted. They went to a house 
near by and dismounted. Smith rode along, trying to 
look unconcerned. He saw that the men were rebel 
soldiers or guerrillas, and that they expected him to 
stop and Join them. When he came opposite he saluted 
and went on. Being so near the Union lines, they 
must then have suspected him. They shouted ^'■Halt!^^ 
He quickened his pace. The rebels at once mounted 
and pursued. He spurred on his faithful horse — a 
race for the picket-post. He kept ahead, and in a few 
minutes found himself with the Second Iowa. 

It was Just sundown, ten days since he was captured. 
He had been six days and five nights in the incessant 
labor and dreadful anxieties of his struggle to escape. 
He had travelled quite two hundred miles, every mile 
in the enemy's country. 

Davidson says that Smith's flight was not discovered 
till morning, and that then searching parties were sent 
out and bloodhounds employed. But he had four or 
five hours the start and was on a good horse. 

How widely different and how much harder was 
poor Davidson's experience ! He paid dearly for his 
hope of a frying-pan. He spent fifteen months in 
prisons and prison pens, in Mobile, Eichmond, Belle 
Isle, Andersonville, and Millen, half-clad, half-starved, 
and most of the time without shelter or blanket. If 
his story is less interesting than Smith's, it is only be- 
cause, unhappily, in those days his was a very common 
experience. Stories of the captivity of Union soldiers 



150 



STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT, 



and their unsuccessful attempts to escape have often 
been told. The hardships of prison life in the South 
were so dreadful that almost every day some of the 
wretched prisoners risked their lives upon some des- 
perate plan of eluding or bi'eaking their guards. Many 
other soldiers of the Fourth Iowa suffered in the hands 
of the rebels much as Davidson did ; and his stoiy is 
told as the type of all. 

As soon as a detachment was despatched in pursuit 
of Smith, the other prisoners were marched on tO' 
West Point, and sent thence by rail to Columbus, Miss, 
After a while they were sent to Mobile and confined 
in a Jail. There it was Davidson's fortune to occupy 
the same cell and bed with the famous Neal Dow of 
Maine, then a general in the Union aiTQy, who had 
been captiu'ed. Thence he was shipped to Atlanta, 
where he was confined several weeks, but with com- 
parative comfort and with enough to eat. But that 
was too good to last, and he was sent, with a large 
number of prisoners, to Richmond. There he spent 
some time in the Libby prison, of which his most dis- 
tinct memoiy is the incessant fighting of the prisoners 
against vermin, a hopeless task, because they were al- 
lowed no means for cleanliness. 

While at Libby he had an adventure which he re- 
fers to as ''a little circumstance that made the hair 
rise on my head." One morning in October, just after 
the roll was called, he and four others were ordered to- 
step two paces to the front. Then ^'■Rightface I — JFor- 
ward, march!'''' and they marched out into the street 
and through the city, surrounded by a guard with 
fixed beyonets. They were not told where they were 
going, but, naturally, they imagined it was to death. 



LESSEJi MOVEMENTS JN MISSISSIPPI. 151 

The procession brought up in the notorious Castle 
Thunder, where the prisoners were separated and 
placed in solitary confinement, with the information 
that they were to await and follow the fate of a like 
numbei' of Confederates who were then held by the 
Union government and threatened with punishment 
for some exceptional villainy. They were confined in 
Castle Thunder a week, and then, without explanation, 
returned to Libby. 

A few days afterward he was sent, with all other 
enlisted men, from Libby to Belle Isle. After that 
Libby was occupied only by captive officers, and Belle 
Isle was crowded with soldiers. It was at the begin- 
ning of an extremely severe winter, which witnessed 
the death or ruin of health of many thousands of the 
prisoners from cruel exposure and starvation. There 
was shelter enough for only a part of the wretched 
men. Indeed, at times the crowd was so great that 
only a small part could get their heads under a roof. 
The weather was by turns wet and freezing, with 
piercing winds. Nobody had enough clothing, many 
had far too little, and only a few had been so lucky 
as to have a blanket left to them when plundered of 
their effects by their captors. Davidson was without 
shelter, without a blanket, bareheaded, and barefooted. 
The food was always scanty, poor, and irregularly 
supplied. The hunger of these patriots, dying by 
inches, was most pitiful. Yet when two or three 
prisoners were reported missing one day, the com- 
mandant deprived all the others of food, with the 
threat that they should get no more until they dis- 
closed the method of escape. This atrocious barbarity 
'"verreached itseK. If any one knew, no one would 



152 S TO J? Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

tell, and tlie ration was restored after a day or two 
without the information. 

At times the Sanitary Commission of the North, 
under leave of the rebel authorities, succeeded in getting 
shipments of clothing, canned food, fruits, and other 
comforts, through to Belle Isle for the prisoners. It 
was all appropriated by their guards, some of whom 
were base enough to wear the clothing and eat the 
provisions in the sight of the prisoners. Jeering them 
the while and tossing to them the emptied cans. 

No one who has not seen the ghastly objects in the 
form of men delivered at Annapolis from Belle Isle 
early in 1864, can imagine the terrible life in that 
slaughter-island. The dead were buried there thickly, 
under the eyes, under the feet, of the miserable sur- 
vivors. But when the ground was frozen, so that it 
was hard to dig graves, the corpses were thrust into 
the river through the ice. 

At the end of the winter it was decided to remove 
the survivors to the interior, and many of them were 
sent to Andersonville. Davidson was in that party. 
The prisoners had often been told by their guards 
during the winter that they were about to be ex- 
changed, and their hopes were as often raised, only to 
be disappointed. Now, when they were again told so, 
and were at the same time ordered out and removed 
from the island, it did seem likely to be true. For a 
brief hour there was the sweetest happiness among 
the poor fellows. But the rebels had only made a 
hideous joke : the ^^Tetches were to be " exchanged " 
from the horrors of Belle Isle to the greater horrors 
of Andersonville. 

The fearful sufferings of the captive Union soldiers 



LESSER MOVEMENTS IN MISSISSIPPI. 153 

at Andersonville have been described many times. It 
is enough to say here that Davidson saw tlie heartless 
deeds done as they have been described. It was in 
March, 1864, that he arrived there. The prison was 
only a pen, a high close fence or " stockade," sur- 
rounding about thirty acres, one fourth a swamp. In 
that low, sandy region of southern Georgia the sun is 
very hot even in the spring, but no shelter was pro- 
vided. The prison was surrounded by endless stretches 
of worthless pine woods, and the prisoners would 
have been very glad to cut the timber to build huts 
or shelters. They begged for leave to do it, but were 
not permitted. Some of the men were lucky enough 
to have, or to beg or buy, pieces of blankets or of old 
tents, which they stretched on sticks. These served 
as an awning, but were of little use against rain. The 
men who did not have them were compelled to take 
the burning sun and the storms as they came ; and 
very many of them were without hats or shoes. Even 
the shade of the high fence Avas denied them by the 
" dead-line " regulation. The food was so scanty and 
so bad as to create the belief in the minds of many, 
that the rebels entertained a deliberate purpose to kill 
the prisoners by starvation or to destroy their physi- 
cal vigor. The ration for the day was from half a 
pound to a pound of meal, made of corn and cobs 
ground together, two ounces of pork, almost always 
spoiled and often wholly withheld, and soup made of 
dried (and often " wormy ") peas. Even this ration 
was sometimes diminished, or wholly cut oif when the 
commandant lost temper over an escape or an attempt 
to escape. The regular ration of Confederate soldiers 
weighed about two and a half pounds, that of Union 



154 STOR Y OF A CA VALE V REGIMENT. 

soldiers about three j)ounds. At least two pounds of 
good food a day liave been found to be absolutely nec- 
essary to maintain tlie healtli and strength of a soldier. 

Those who escaped from the pen and were caught 
and returned had to suffer more than the loss of this 
wretched ration. In some cases they were compelled 
to drag after them for an indefinite time a heavy can- 
non-ball, fastened to the ankles by a chain ; in others 
they received a ferocious thrashing on the bare body 
with a cat-o'-nine-tails, applied until the miserable man 
sunk to the ground, all strength and heart driven out 
of him by pain. Sometimes the poor wretch was 
made a " spread-eagle," a mode of torture exquisite 
and effective, which cannot be realized upon the mere 
telling. The victim was placed on his back on open 
ground, his legs and arms stretched as wide and far as 
possible and secured by cords to stakes. Occasionally 
a forked stick was pushed into the ground, a-straddle 
of his neck, to " make him lay low " as the rebels 
said. There he lay, the sun or rain beating in his 
face, without food or drink, for a time to him in- 
definite and of endless torture. 

But it was not intended to speak at length of these 
barbarities. That the prisoners were compelled to 
use the fouled water within the pen when there was 
good water outside easy to reach ; that they were ex- 
posed to sun and storms when they could have been 
sheltered easily and without cost ; that they were not 
supplied with any means of cleanliness whatever, nor 
with any clothing whatever ; that they were kept at 
the point of starvation and were inhumanly neglected 
in illness ; that under such circumstances and in the 
prolonged heat of the summer in that unhealthful 



LESSEJi MOVEMENTS IN MISSISSTPPI. 155 

climate they sickened and died in shocking numbers ; 
that they were shot on the " dead-line " or " for fun " 
by the guards ; that many lost their lives in desperate 
attempts to escape the horrid inhumanity of their 
fellow-men, — all these things are elsewhere recorded, 
filling one of the most shameful pages in history. 

Davidson, like all the other prisoners, was always 
planning escape, but he did not make an attempt 
till the 11th of September, 1864. That night he and 
about twenty others made a dash upon the guards at 
the gate. They were fired upon, of course, but in the 
darkness the most of them got to the woods. They 
were hunted and pursued for days with bloodhounds, 
and the greater part were retaken. Davidson was 
caught after twelve days. He had moved northwest- 
ward through woods and swamps, and had reached the 
Chattahoochee River near Columbus ; but he could 
not get over the river. At night he ventured into the 
town and trifed to cross by the bridge. He was chal- 
lenged when partly across, by a sentry at the Alabama 
end, when he ran back and took to the woods again. 
This must have been the southernmost bridge, the one 
which was first assaulted by our cavalry in the attack 
upon Columbus, April 16, 1865. He wandered the 
next day in the woods along the river, seeking means 
of crossing, but about noon the hounds got on his trail. 
Of course he had not strength enough to run well 
(having had no food in the twelve days except raw 
sweet-potatoes and muscadines), and he was soon 
caught. His entire clothing at this time was a shirt 
without sleeves and trousers reaching to the knees, 
• the missing parts of these garments having been worn 
and torn away. 



156 STOJiY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

He was taken to Columbus and with a party of his 
comrades who had been recaptured was sent to Macon 
and then to Millen. At Millen was another prison- 
pen, in which he was kept several weeks, somewhat 
less miserable than at Andersonville. The proposal 
to enlist in the rebel army often made to Union 
prisoners, was here repeated to the prisoners, and some 
of them accepted, with the idea of escaping in that 
way. These were released, but in a few days re- 
appeared in prison "wearing jewelry," — the ball and 
chain. They had tried to escape soon after they were 
em'olled, and had failed. As they had enlisted, the 
act was desertion and they were liable to be shot ; 
but it is not known how they were finally punished. 

At last, near the end of November, after more than 
a year of almost continual suffering from exposure, 
hunger, and illness, emaciated and reduced to extreme 
feebleness, he was removed to Savannah, and, with 
some hundreds of others in similar condition, was 
paroled and sent by water to Annapolis. He was sent 
thence to Camp Chase, at Columbus, Ohio, a general 
camp of paroled prisoners, and remained there till the 
end of the war. 

A year later fate brought him revenge. He was 
called as a witness against Wirz, then on his trial at 
Washington for the horrid cruelties practised upon 
the Union prisoners at Andersonville ; and Wirz was 
convicted and hung. 

During the three weeks' absence of the men on the 
raid, those who stayed behind were veiy quiet. 
Picketing and other guard duty, with the usual 
fatigue work, occupied their time ; and there was still 
much illness. The returned raiders, too, now had 
some rest. Every few days, however, a detachment, 



LESSER MOVEMENTS IN MISSISSIPPI. 157 

large or small, and sometimes the whole effective force, 
was ordered out for a scout, a patrol, a reconnoissance, 
or a foraging trip. One of the foraging parties, sent 
out September 12th, was the whole brigade of cavalry, 
with a train of ninety wagons, which were brought 
back filled with corn and meat, — one of the largest 
foraging expeditions in the history of the regiment. 
But the experienced cavalryman thinks it " more fun " 
to go a-foraging in small parties. A quartermaster 
between the corn-crib and his horse he considers super- 
fluous ; and he never saw a commissary who could 
distribute hams with better effect than he can himself. 

When at Memphis, at the end of the raid just 
described. Captains Peters and Pierce, with Quarter- 
master-Sergeant Marsh of the ISTon-Commissioned Staff, 
and Sergeant John W. Corbin of B, were detailed to 
proceed to Iowa on recruiting service for the regiment. 
They were absent several months, and gained a large 
number of recruits, who joined in the winter. 

But meantime, in October and November, 1863, the 
effective force of the regiment was very low, the num- 
ber of men in camp being only about six hundred and 
fifty, with hardly five hundred fit for duty. Nearly 
two hundred men had enlisted in the regiment from 
Iowa since it took the field, but the losses by death, by 
disability from wounds and disease, and by other casu- 
alties, now amounted to about five hundred, while 
hospital-wards and detached-service at different places 
fi'om Keokuk to Vicksburg could account for about 
two hundred more. But this was not the only regi- 
ment with such a record. The Iowa troops paid 
dearly for their fame. Lieutenant Yorke, Mustering- 
officer of the Fifteenth Corps, in August, 1863, 
officially informed the Adjutant-General of Iowa, that 



15S SJ'Om' 0J-' A CUrAZJCV Ji:£GIJl£JVT, 

. - - — 

tlie Fourth Cavalrv ;\iid all other Iowa iviriments in 
the oor}>s had fallen Wlow the nuuiuium in lumibers, 
and that for that reason none of them oould luuster-in 
a colonel. But the j^atriotio zeal of the young State 
had not Haggeil, and alxnit this time theiv was a 
\vholesome change there, f n.nn the passion for forming 
new reiriments to the wis*.\om of reoruitinoj into the 
old ones, with the result that the Fourth Cavalry was 
filleil to the maximum during the follo^^■ing winter 
and spring. 

When, after the battle of Chickamauga, Grant was 
sent frv^m Vicksburg to Chattan^.x>ga, to command the 
armies thei"e, he directed Sherman to take all the 
troops that could be spared frv>m Vicksburg, move 
them by Wat to Memphis, and man^'h thenc*e to Chat- 
tan».x^ira. The line of march was to be throuirh the 
northern K>rvlers of Mississippi and Alabama, along 
the line of the Memphis it Charleston Railroad. That 
rv>ad was now broken at so many places, however, that 
it was of little use for transpoitation. The rel>els 
had several divisions in central and northern Missis- 
sippi which could easily be thrown in Sherman's ^vay. 
To divert the attention of these trv.x^j^, Sherman 
direi'ttxl AVinslow to make a demonstration to the 
northeast with all his effective cavalry. At the same 
time he appointeil him Chief of Cavalry of the Fifteenth 
Army Corj>s. This was the order : 

Headquarteks 15 ih Army Corps* 
Camp on Big Black, Sep. 26, 1S63. 

General Orders |^ 
No. 76. ) 

I. Colonel Winslow will organize a force of about one 
thousand men. to move \-ia Brownsville. Vernon, and Ben- 
ton, and to return bv Yazoo and Mechanicsbur^. to start 



LESSER MOVEMENTS IN MISSISSIPPI. 159 

to-morrow evening, special instructions to be given to the 
Commander, who will report in person to the Commanding 
General. 

2. General Buckland will send two regiments of infantry- 
forward on the Benton road, to await the arrival of the cavalry. 

3. General Corse will send a brigade of infantry, with 
three days' rations, to-morrow to the church on the Jackson 
road. When the cavalry passes there, they will follow to 
Brownsville, to remain until time is allowed for the cavalry 
to reach Vernon, when they will return to camp, and follow 
the motions of their division. 

4. This move is designed to clear our north front before 
moving up the river, and during the time it occupies camps 
will be disposed as follows : 

General Tuttle's headquarters where these headquarters 
now are, and the camp of the Fourth Iowa Cavalry near 
by ; General Buckland's brigade at Oak Ridge ; Colonel 
Geddes' brigade at or near Trible's ; General Mower's 
brigade at the Railroad Bridge ; and all the cavalry except 
the Fourth Iowa at Messenger's. 

5. Colonel Winslow, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, is announced 
as Chief of Cavalry, and his orders will be obeyed by all the 
cavalry forces now attached to this command. 

6. No cavalry will accompany the movement up the 
river, except the detachment of Thielemann's Cavalry 
attached to the Second Division. 

By order of Maj. Genl. W. T. Sherman, 

R. M. Sawyer, 

Asst. Adjt. Genl. 

The day before this order was issued three regi- 
ments, or parts of regiments, of cavalry, the Fourth 
and Eleventh Illinois and the Tenth Missouri, sent 
from Memphis by the river, arrived at the Big Black, 
reported to General Sherman, and encamped near the 
Fourth Iowa. 

Sherman had suggested to Winslow a couple of 



i6o STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

cavalry raids into the interior of the State, one to the 
northeast, upon Vernon, and another southward beyond 
the Big Black and against Port Gibson, these toAvns 
being held by the rebels as important posts and places 
of rendezvous ; and preparations for such raids were 
in progress. But this purpose was abandoned, for a 
time at least. The cavalry was at its worst then in 
respect to horses, and only about nine hundred men 
were found fairly mounted in the whole brigade ; but 
on Sunday, September 2'rth, a column of that number, 
drawn from five regiments, the Fourth Iowa, Fourth, 
Fifth, and Eleventh Illinois, and Tenth Missouri, with 
two small howitzers, crossed the Big Black at Messen- 
ger's Feny, and marched toward Bolton. There were 
three hundred men fi'om the Fourth Iowa, under Cap- 
tain Pursel. On the same day Sherman's infantry, 
except the regiments mentioned in the above order, 
marched into Vicksburg, to embark for Memphis. 

Ten miles out, at Queen's Hill, the cavalry came 
up with General Corse's infantiy, which had ali'eady 
met a body of the enemy and had created the impres- 
sion that an important expedition into the interior 
of the State was in progress. When the cavalry had 
passed him, Corse countermarched for Vicksburg. 
The cavalry bivouacked that night at Clark's plan- 
tation, a few miles south of Brownsville. At four the 
next morning it turned out and moved upon that town. 
A detachment of Whitfield's brigade of cavalry held 
the place, and offered some resistance. It was imme- 
diately attacked and driven out, taking the road north- 
eastward, toward Livingston. Winslow left one 
regiment and one howitzer at Brownsville, with orders 
to remain a few hours, watching the eastern roads, and 




DEMONSTRATION IN FAVOR OF SHERMAN, 
SEPT. 29 AND 30, 1863. 



a. Sherman's Headquarters. 

b. Camps of the Cavalry. 

c. Bivouac first night. 

d. Whitfield's Headquarters and Camps. 

e. Loring's Headquarters and Principal 

Camps. 



/. Bivouac second night. 

g. Battle offered : Winslow's Brigade. 

h. Whitfield's Brigade. 

< Enemy's cavalry met. 



3 



LESSER MOVEMENTS IN MISSISSIPPI. i6i 

then to follow and overtake tlie column, while the 
other regiments were to march north on the Vernon 
road. It was very sultry, the roads deep in dust and 
water scarce, and the rebels in front kept the advance 
continually in a skirmish. Eight of the enemy were 
captured in action during the day. The camp of 
Whitfield's brigade was then just south of Vernon, 
and the purpose was to strike it. There were one or 
two other brigades of the enemy's cavalry in the 
region and some brigades of infantry at Canton, the 
whole commanded by General Loring. The rebel 
camp near Vernon was reached after a march of 
sixteen miles, but Whitfield had retired that morning, 
going toward Livingston, eastward, probably upon the 
news of the movement of the day before. Vernon was 
occupied at once, care being first taken to send a regi- 
ment on either side of the town, to prevent the escape 
of any of the enemy who might be there ; but none 
were found. A halt was made, and a detachment sent 
out on each of the roads leading eastward, for observa- 
tion and to confuse the rebel commanders, and then 
the column moved on to the north, Sherman's instruc- 
tions requiring it to recross the Big Black by the ford 
at Beatty's Bluff, nine miles from Vernon. A cross- 
road near this place was reached after sunset. It was 
about twelve miles east and north to Canton, where 
Loring and the larger part of his command were, and 
about nine north to Moore's Ford. A detachment was 
sent out on each of these roads, while an attempt was 
made to ford the river. One regiment was also posted 
in the rear, as the enemy had been following and 
skirmishing with the rear-guard all the afternoon. 

Indeed, the rebel cavalry had been found on the right 
II 



i62 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

on every road, at first of Whitfield's and then of 
Cosby's brigade ; but it always retired upon approach, 
with the object, as was supposed, of leading the Union 
column far enough to the east to enable a force of the 
enemy to get between it and the Big Black. 

The ford was found to be impracticable from depth 
of water and mire, and it was necessary to go farther 
north to cross. The horses were fed in the woods, 
many fires were lighted, to make it appear to the 
enemy that a large force was encamped there for the 
night, and the men made coifee and took supper. 
Then the detachments were called in and the whole 
command marched up the river, avoiding the road and 
moving through woods and fields, and reaching Moore's 
Ford at ten o'clock. This route took the column 
within seven miles of Loring's camps at Canton. 
Forty-two miles had been marched that day. The 
ford at Moore's was passable, and the command crossed 
in the night. The Fifth Illinois, with one howitzer, 
was left at the river, and the other regiments rode 
westward across the bottom-land about a mile, and 
went into camp on the high ground. From this posi- 
tion the bottom and the ford could be overlooked, and, 
as the object of the march was now accomplished and 
the command was well protected by the river, the men 
were permitted to rest. More than fifty miles had 
been marched on the east of the Big Black, the greater 
part of the time within a few miles of larger forces of 
the enemy ; but the feint with infantry the first day 
and the appearance of the cavalry on different roads in 
quick succession misled the enemy as to the size of the 
force and its purpose. After much countermarching 
throughout Monday, the rebel cavalry must have hit 



LESSER MOVEMENTS IN MISSISSIPPI. 163 

upon the real movement during the night. It was 
afterward learned that one of their cavalry commands 
marched seventy-five miles that day, under changes of 
orders, upon different reports of the position and 
movement of Winslow's column. 

Early in the morning the enemy arrived in force on 
the east bank of the river. The Fifth Illinois had 
been well concealed among the trees and underbrush at a 
little distance from the bank. At daybreak the pickets 
saw the rebels move up to the river bank, plant a 
battery of four guns, and dismount a part of their force 
in support. Then the guns opened fire, and the mounted 
men began to cross. But they could not see any of the 
Union men, and they hurt none. The rebel guns were 
immediately followed by the bugles in "Winslow's biv- 
ouac on the hill, sounding " To horse ! " The Fourth 
Iowa was sent down toward the nver, to relieve the 
Fifth Illinois, and with orders to fall back slowly. 
The Fifth Illinois was placed at the head of the 
column, and all moved off westward, on the road to 
Benton, leaving behind the small howitzer which had 
been planted at the river and which the enemy's fire 
had disabled. The enemy followed, but cautiously and 
keeping well together. Winslow had left a note for 
Whitfield with a rebel officer, who was captured but 
was too sick to march, inviting him to fight his com- 
mand at Benton. In this note Whitfield was reminded 
of the murder of John Buck, and was warned that he 
might expect retaliation for that atrocious crime. At 
Benton, fourteen miles, the command was faced about, 
thrown into line, ready to receive attack. The enemy 
appeared and drew into line on lower ground, but took 
no further step and made no attack. • 



i64 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

As Winslow's orders were now fully executed and 
he did not know how large a force the enemy could 
bring into action, he determined not to attack, but to 
return to the camp on the Big Black. The column was 
accordingly remounted, moved into the road, and 
marched toward Yazoo City, the rebel cavalry appar- 
ently following no farther. The bivouac that night 
was at Short Creek, three miles from Yazoo City, and 
twenty-five miles from Moore's Ford. The next day 
the march was southward, and in the afternoon camp 
was made at Satartia, twenty-one miles from the halt 
of the night before. The enemy was not again seen ; 
and the next day, the 1st of October, the camp at 
Flowers' was reached. 

The movement had been entirely successful and the 
marching orders exactly executed, except the recross- 
ing the river at Beatty's Ford. As this could not 
be done, a greater risk was run than Sherman antici- 
pated; but no loss was occasioned by the further 
march into the enemy's country. And the purpose of 
diverting attention from' Sherman's movement across 
the country was accomplished. His divisions were 
well on their way from Memphis to Chattanooga before 
Loring knew they had left Vicksburg. 

This expedition was very gratifying to all concerned. 
The march had to be made with great activity and care, 
the country east of the river being mostly cultivated 
and open, traversed by many roads, and the enemy 
having within easy reach of any point forces much 
larger than ours. There would have been a dangerous, 
perhaps fatal, loss of time, if so small a command had 
attempted to discover the precise positions and numbers 
of the enemy, and equally dangerous to permit the 



II 



LESSER MOVEMENTS IN MISSISSIPPI. 165 

enemy to get possession of any road between it and the 
river. The main cohimn therefore marched steadily in 
the direction intended, with that boldness which is the 
first element of cavalry success. There was no rest for 
any one until after the Big Black was recrossed. 

With the exception of the capture of two men (not 
of the Fourth Iowa) M'^ho left the ranks contrary to 
orders, there was no loss ; but the command captured 
and brought in eight of the enemy, one hundred horses, 
fifty mules, and one ambulance, and destroyed fifty 
stand of arms taken in action. 

Sherman was gone when the cavalry returned to its 
camps, and was not again seen by the Fourth Iowa, 
except during the following February, when he com- 
manded the great expedition from Vicksburg to Meri- 
dian. When the ofiicial report of this Black River 
movement was received by him, he returned a letter 
of commendation, which is here published for the 
first time. As will be seen, it applies not only to the 
expedition just described, but to the raid of August 
from Vicksburg to Memphis. 

Headquarters Army of the Tennessee, 
luKA, Miss., Oct. 25, 1863, 
Colonel Winslow, 

Fourth Iowa Cavalry, Vicksburg. 
Dear Sir: 

I have heretofore failed to answer your letter containing 
your report of the expedition made at the moment of my 
leaving Black River. I was much interested by the report, 
which I forwarded at once. It fulfilled all the purposes 
aimed at, and your conduct of the expedition met and still 
meets my hearty approval. 

In like manner I repeat that in the former trip to Grenada 
and Memphis you did exactly as you were ordered, and 



1 66 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

acted perfectly right. I wish now I had ordered you to 
destroy all cars instead of attempting to save them, but my 
instructions were based on General Grant's wishes, as con- 
veyed to me in person. I do not now know why these 
instructions varied with those which controlled the party 
which came from La Grange. That was none of my business 
or yours. 

I now assure you of my great respect. I esteem you 
highly as a most promising cavalry officer, and only ask you,, 
in whatever position you may find yourself, to obey orders ; 
and when left to your discretion, to do just what your judg- 
ment suggests. Only remember that boldness and dash are 
the characteristics of good cavalry. The Southern cavalry 
are more reckless of horseflesh than ours, but massed ours 
is the heaviest and best. 

I will watch your progress always, and wish you to con- 
sider me your friend and to call on me freely when you will. 
Don't commit the common mistake of supposing yourself 
slighted because not advanced with lightning rapidity, but 
feel that it is better for promotion to follow fitness, rather 
than precede it. Do your duty always manfully, and before 
you have my years, there is no reason why you should not 
have my rank and more power. 

Your sincere friend, 

W. T. Sherman, 

Major- General. 

Two weeks later, further movements of troops being 
made from Memphis to Chattanooga, and the enemy 
having collected a still larger army near Canton, under 
Generals Loring and Stephen D. Lee, General McPher- 
son, then in command at Vicksburg, was directed to 
make a demonstration in force, to prevent, if possible, 
any movement of troops to the north. 

On the 15th of October, McPhersou crossed the Big 
Black, with ten thousand infantry and several bat- 
teries, in two divisions, commanded by Logan and 



LESSER MOVEMENTS IN MISSISSIPPI. 167 

Mower. The Vicksburg cavalry being now under 
McPherson, lie ordered Winslow to take tlie front witli 
the five regiments of his command. This time it was pos- 
sible to mount one thousand men, and that number was 
detailed. And now, for the first time, the cavalry was 
allowed the dignity of some effective artillery of its 
own. Two good brass field-pieces, James' rifled 12- 
pounders, were assigned to the brigade, and placed 
under Captain Peter Joyce of the Tenth Missouri. It 
was a good choice. Captain Joyce was very zealous 
and successful in command of the battery, distinguish- 
ing himself with it on more than one occasion. From 
the Fourth Iowa went about two hundred and seventy- 
five men, under Major Spearman. 

The cavalry crossed the Big Black at Messenger's 
Ferry on the 15th, and took the upper Clinton road, 
turning off to the north on the Brownsville road. The 
Fifth Illinois was in front, and near Brownsville it ran 
upon the rebel cavalry, attacked and drove it through 
and beyond the town. The cavalry then bivouacked 
north of the town, while the infantry lay south of it. 
The next morning the cavalry was sent on the road to 
Clinton, where it soon met the rebel cavalry again, 
under Lee. The advanced regiment attacked, and Lee 
fell back, but he moved slowly, and presently dis- 
closed a line of infantry and artillery. When the guns 
were opened upon the cavalry, McPherson sent up the 
infantry, and ordered Winslow to move around on the 
enemy's right flank. This was immediately done, and, 
finding a body of the enemy to resist the movement, 
the cavalry attacked and drove them to and across the 
Bogue Chito creek. The whole of the enemy's line 
then fell back. 



1 68 STOR Y OF A CA VALR V REGIMENT. 

The brigade had hardly gained this position, however, 
when the Fifth Illinois, which occupied the extreme left 
of its line, in a strip of woods, was sharply charged by 
a regiment of the enemy's cavalry. This regiment 
appeared suddenly, and attacked so impetuously that 
a part of the fighting was hand-to-hand. Winslow at 
once ordered up the Fourth Iowa and the two guns. 
As the Fourth came up and opened upon them, the 
rebels retired, moving across some open fields, their 
speed hastened by a few shots from the two guns. 
They left a number of dead and wounded in the woods 
and the fields, but they inflicted some loss upon the 
Fifth Illinois. In the Fourth Iowa one man was killed,* 
and several horses were killed or disabled. 

The brigade then moved forward on a road to Liv- 
ingston (a village about ten miles southwest from 
Canton), the Fourth Illinois in front. The Tenth 
Missouri was detached and sent with four regiments of 
infantry upon another road to the east, also leading 
to Livingston ; and that regiment was not again with 
the brigade until the return to the Vicksburg camp. 
The other regiments bivouacked that night near the 
Bogue Chito, the enemy having retired only five miles 
during the day ; and the next morning, Sunday, the 
17th, the column moved slowly forward toward Liv- 
ingston. The rebels fell back, but not in haste, and it 
appeared plainly that a large body was within sup- 
porting distance. The Fourth Iowa was next the head 
of the cavalry column, the small detachment of the 
Eleventh Illinois having the advance. The infantry 
was kept close up to the rear of the cavalry. 

Two or three miles from Livingston, approaching 
it from our direction, the road struck, at an acute 

' See Appendix : " Engagements and Casualties." 



LESSEE MOVEMENTS IN MISSISSIPPI. 169 

angle, the foot of a wooded ridge, bigli, but of an 
easy slope. In front of the ridge is a narrow valley, 
which was then occupied by open fields extending 
partly up the slopes on both sides. The road by 
which our cavalry was moving on the southern side of 
the valley descended the hill by a gradual course along 
its face, just outside of the fences of the valley fields, 
so that all of the wooded ridge spoken of was in view 
to the left and front. At the bottom of the valley, 
where the road crossed it, were the many buildings of 
a large plantation, and a great quantity of corn was 
stored there. The Eleventh Illinois detachment had 
reached these buildings and was destroying the corn 
by fire when it was attacked by heavy volleys from 
the front. The detachment fell back to the column, 
bringing its wounded. The Fourth Iowa was at that 
time descending the slope into the valley, in column 
of fours, the fence and fields being immediately on its 
left, and the rising ground of the hill it was descend- 
ing, covered with woods and in places with thick 
underbrush, on its right. A battery opened on the 
column from the front with solid shot, but ranged too 
high, while from the border of the fields on the 
northerly side of the little valley came a sustained fire 
of small-arms. The enemy's main position had been 
developed. Lee was in command, and apparently will- 
ing to give battle. The regiment halted in column, to 
await orders. It was that hardest of all situations to a 
soldier, standing under fire waiting for orders. Many 
of the companies were in plain view of the enemy, 
with only such shelter as a common rail fence can 
afford to men on horses. That battery might at any 
moment improve its range, and the lines on the other 



lyo STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

border of the little valley were certainly improving' 
theirs. Their balls were making a lively patter on the 
rails and the more lively z-z-zip ! that sets a soldier's 
nerves on edge. It was far from pleasant, and it 
seemed as if orders never would come. 

This was the occasion upon which Captain Beck- 
with distinguished himself by inventing on the field a 
novel and effective order for moving a column quickly 
off a road. He commanded the Second Battalion, 
which was at the head of the regiment and more ex- 
posed than the others. On his right there was a 
hollow or depression in the hillside, grown up with 
underbrush, sufficient to conceal his men. The fire of 
the enemy increased and struck closer. He would not 
keep his men there to suffer when they could be 
sheltered. He could not wait long for orders, he 
thought it necessary to act at once. He turned to his 
men and tore out the order — " Fours right ! Into the 
brush like hell ! " It was obeyed instantly, there was 
no difficulty in understanding it. 

Then at last came ah order for the cavalry to fall 
back. But just before it came the rebels began an 
advance all along their lines. As our cavalry moved 
back up the hill they saw the long gray lines emerge 
from the woods along the opposite ridge and enter the 
fields. There being not room enough in the narrow 
road to countermarch, the column was reversed by a 
right-about-face, so that Beckwith's battalion was still 
the most exposed, and he had a first-rate opportunity 
to see the advance of the enemy. But at this moment 
General McPherson's artillery was opened, to pro- 
tect the retrograde movement, and the enemy was 
checked. 



LESSEE MOVEMENTS IN MISSISSIPPI. 171 

McPherson, deeming the object of the expedition 
now accomplished, began his return to Vicksburg. He 
drew in the infantry and moved it on the road to Clin- 
ton, and directed Winslow to take the rear with his 
cavalry. While this was being done, he kept a couple 
of batteries firing on the rebel position and a brass 
band playing in a conspicuous place, probably with the 
idea that the enemy would suppose for a time that his 
withdrawal was only a change of position. 

But when Lee learned what McPherson was really 
doing, he naturally took the movement to be a retreat. 
His cavalry pressed boldly upon the rear, and the rear- 
guard, as it could go no faster than the infantry in its 
front, was kept fighting all the time. The infantry 
moved with a speed that seemed exceedingly slow, 
though the work of the cavalry might not have been 
easier if the infantry had gone faster. McPherson 
wanted the enemy to understand that he was not run- 
ning away. At any rate, the Fourth Iowa, holding the 
extreme rear, found itself in the paradoxical position 
of moving to the south with the army though facing 
north in line of battle. The rebel cavalrymen, exultant 
with a supposed success in driving oif the Yankees, 
were very spirited. A large body followed closely, 
while a regiment or several companies kept quite upon 
the heels of the retreating column. As the speed of 
the retreat was only a slow walk, the nearest pursuers 
had plenty of opportunity, and all the afternoon, until 
sunset, their attacks were incessant. Their advanced 
companies made frequent dashes upon the rear and 
flanks, and came very near, all the time firing, yelling 
and cursing, mad with excitement. They appeared to 
find a sort of delight in thus nagging the rear-guard. 



172 



STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



The most venturesome rode up furiously, within short 
range, taking little care for shelter ; some of them 
expressing their opinions not only with their guns but 
with their tongues, and their language was often impo- 
lite and unrefined. These foolhardy ones sometimes 
paid dearly for their folly. 

Of course, as the army was steadily moving on, the 
cavalry could not for any length of time maintain the 
same line against these dashes, and the usual method 
of maintaining a rear-guard was inadequate. So the 
companies took rapid turns in forming lines in echelon, 
to hold back the enemy and repel his attacks. The 
rear company of the rear battalion was placed in line 
facing to the rear, in a concealed or protected position 
if possible, with its flank on or near the road, the other 
companies moving forward on the road. When the 
rebels came up, they received a steady iire from this 
company, and sometimes, if circumstances favored, a 
charge forcing them back. While this was going on, 
the next company in order was taking a similar posi- 
tion on the other side of the road, some hundreds of 
yards farther on, to fight its turn when the company 
just engaged should pass. When the engaged company 
knew that the next company was in position, it with- 
drew its line, took the road in column, and rode by at 
a trot to rejoin its battalion. So all the companies 
were, in regular turn, actively engaged. The enemy 
was so persistent that it was necessary to maintain 
this method of defense for several hours. But, though 
it was very exciting and fatiguing, it was a safe and 
effective method. Indeed, the loss was very remarka- 
bly small. Only one man in the regiment was killed 
^nd one captured.^ 

. ' See Appendix : " Engagements and Casualties." 



LESSER MOVEMENTS IN MISSISSIPPI. 173 

It was Sergeant Caskey, of I, who was killed. He 
was at the time in command of his company and de- 
fending his position with great courage. He had been 
wounded and captured in the bloody engagement of 
Bear Creek only four months before. He was a very 
good soldier. 

But the enemy, partly because of this mode of 
defense and partly because of their own temerity, lost 
many men. The nervous strain upon the men of the 
Fourth Iowa on duty that day was as severe as on any 
day during the war ; and the relief was great when, in 
the evening, the rebels ceased to follow and were no 
more seen. 

McPherson camped that night near Clinton, the cav- 
alry being posted to the north of the town ; and the 
next day all the army marched leisurely toward the 
Big Black and the camps. 

The forces at Vicksburg were now much reduced in 
numbers, all Western posts being stripped to fill up 
Grant's army for the contest at Chattanooga. The 
outer lines were drawn in, and the cavalry camps near 
the Big Black were abandoned. When the Fourth 
Iowa returned to Flowers' it found its camp broken 
up and moving to Clear Creek, six miles nearer Vicks- 
burg. Here, on Hebron's plantation, it settled into a 
home of four months. It was an uncomfortable place 
in wet weather, because of the mud, the company lines 
being in a cotton field, but at other times it was good 
enough, and there was the great advantage of a stream 
of good water running through the camp. 

Now there was a period of comparative quiet and 
rest. There was picketing enough, and occasionally a 
scouting or a reconnoitring party sent to the Big Black ; 



174 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

but the men saw that they were to be in that camp an 
indefinite time, and they set to work to make it as com- 
fortable as possible. All who were not on regular duty 
busied themselves in cutting trees, building huts and 
chimneys, witk shelters for their horses, draining and 
improving the grounds, and in tlie many devices by 
which ingenious men make an exposed life endurable. 
In small numbers each day they were " passed " to Vicks- 
burg, which the most of the men had not yet seen, 
although they bad been for six months so near it. A 
few furloughs were granted, and some men who had 
been absent, sick or detached, returned to duty. Peters 
and Pierce, who had been in Iowa recruiting for the 
regiment since August, now returned, and were mus- 
tered into their new positions as lieutenant-colonel and 
major. They had done well in the recruiting service, 
a large number of new men being sent from Iowa a 
little later to join the regiment. 

This well-earned period of rest was not broken by any 
movement or expedition of moment until early in De- 
cember. It was then reported that a large force of rebels 
was concentrating in the country east of Natchez, 
apparently with the object of taking that place. The 
troops then at Natchez being thought insufficient, rein- 
forcements were asked from Vicksburg. General 
McPherson sent some infantry and about four hundred 
of the cavalry forces at Clear Creek, all under General 
Walter Q. Gresham. The cavalry detachment was com- 
manded by Lieutenant-Colonel Wallace, of the Eleventh 
Illinois Cavalry. A detail of one hundred was made 
from the Fourth Iowa, from Companies C, H, I, K, L, 
and M, and Major Spearman was sent in command. It 
required nearly all the fit horses to mount this number. 



LESSER MOVEMENTS IN MISSISSIPPI. 175 

In tlie afternoon of tlie 4th of December the cavalry 
rode into Vicksburg and embarked on two steam- 
boats. It reached Natchez on the 6th, landed, and 
marched through the town, to the east, where it was 
joined to the provisional division which General 
Gresham had Just organized. Gresham had now 
about three thousand infantry, the four hundred 
cavalry, and a few hundred of those unfortunates 
called Horse-Marines. It was the first time the Fourth 
Cavalry had met any of these nondescript warriors ; 
and they looked upon them with curiosity and amuse- 
ment, pretending to regard them as a new and comical 
species of man. 

The Horse-Marines were organized specially for 
service on the Mississippi, and were quartered, with 
their horses, on a fleet of " tin-clad " ^ boats, moving 
up and down the river as occasion was supposed to 
demand. They wore a uniform of green and orange, 
in marked contrast with the distinct blues of the army 
and navy. It was the hope of their imaginative 
inventor that some day they would be landed some- 
where just in the nick of time to do something dread- 
ful to the enemy. But, if history has not neglected 
their deeds, they permitted their enemies to live in 
peace and die from natural causes. The soldiers ridi- 
culed them on the land and the sailors spoke of them 
disrespectfully on the water. The cavalrymen, now 
seeing them marching, said it was plain that they could 
not ride, that they mounted on the " off " side, boosted 
by the corporals, that they were afraid it was going 
to rain, and that if by any chance they should fire 

* This word was invariably used in referring to these boats. They were 
usually ordinary river steamboats, reconstructed for the purpose, and protected 
against the fire of small-arms by a sheathing of thin plates or sheets of iron. 



176 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

their guns, they would have to go back to the boats 
to have them reloaded by the chaplain. 

Gresham camped that night near Washington, 
a few miles east of Natchez, Colonel Wallace's cav- 
alry forming the eastern outpost ; and early the 
next morning the little army marched southeast, 
by Palestine, and thence south, with the cavalry in 
front. The cavalry soon found that they were fol- 
lowing their old acquaintance, Wirt Adams, his rear 
being sometimes near enough to engage in a skirmish 
with the Fourth Iowa detachment, which held the 
advance. In the afternoon there was a long halt, for 
some reason unknown to the cavalry, but later the 
pursuit was resumed and fast time made. The march 
now bore to the southwest ; and it was said that 
Adams would be caught in the narrow space between 
the Homo Chito River and the Mississippi. This put 
the Fourth Iowa men into high spirits. They wanted 
revenge upon Adams, and were willing to attack him 
in almost any place. So when, after marching till late 
at night, the cavalry was halted and directed to rest, 
but without fires and without making noise, and the 
men understood they were near the end of the tongue 
of land between the two rivers, their belief was that 
at daybreak they would have an opportunity to pun- 
ish, perhaps destroy or capture, their troublesome 
enemy. 

At daybreak, accordingly, the command had quietly 
got ready for action, and was standing to horse, when 
an order was received from Colonel Farrar, who was 
in command of all the mounted men on the expedition, 
to return. Though they did not know the reason for 
this order, the cavalrymen were much vexed by it ; 



LESSER MOVEMENTS IN MISSISSIPPI. 177 

and more so when they saw, later, that the rebel 
cavalry really had been in their front. After march- 
ing back a mile or two, it was seen that the rebels had 
retm^ned by the same road ; and they moved off by a 
road to the east, within easy view of Farrar's halted 
column, released from their predicament. The Fourth 
Iowa men were disgusted and angry. Gresham moved 
slowly back to Natchez, by nearly the same route he 
had taken on the way out, reaching there on the 9th. 
The cavalry had a little skirmishing in the rear. So 
far as the soldiers could see, the expedition had accom- 
plished nothing. If, however, the enemy really had 
intended an attack upon Natchez, he may have been 
deterred by this show of force. 

The only report of this affair is an unofficial one,^ 
but it is very friendly to Farrar, and appears to have 
been written by some one who was with him on the 
expedition. By that report, Farrar's reason for refus- 
ing to attack was that he feared the infantry would 
not get up in time to support him. But on the return 
march the infantry was found, at rest, only a couple of 
miles from the road by which Adams escaped. It 
could easily have been brought up within half an 
hour ; and the cavalry, even if it could not alone have 
beaten Adams, which is not admitted, could certainly 
ha^'e held him in the cul-de-sac where he was until the 
infantry and guns came up. 

The cavalry was halted a few miles out of Natchez, 
on the Woodville road, and spent some days of luxu- 
rious ease on the splendid Nutt and Veasie planta- 
tions, varied by visits to the quaint old southern city, 
very beautiful, as it was then, in the soft December 

' 8 Moore's Rebellion Record, p. 466. 
12 



1 78 STOR V OF A CA VALR V REGIMENT. 

sunlight. On the 15th it was released from orders at 
Natchez, and went on the boats, to return to Vicks- 
burg. It arrived there and reached the camp at Clear 
Creek on the l7th, having neither loss nor gain to 
report, nor any record except that it had travelled 
three hundred and eighty miles on the river and sixty 
in all on the horses. 

A few days after the return of the Natchez detach- 
ment occurred the only disturbance within the regi- 
ment in its history. The bringing of liquor into the 
camp was, of course, always strictly prohibited ; but 
on Christmas day some of the men were found drunk. 
They became so boisterous and troublesome that their 
immediate officers could not control them. Major 
Spearman, then in command of the regiment, appeared 
and ordered the rioters to their quarters. One of 
them. Private John L. White, of L, refused to obey, 
and, in his drunken rage, threw a brick at the Major, 
which struck him down. White was at once seized 
and confined, and was soon afterward court-martialled 
and sentenced to be shot. Greneral Howard, then in 
command of the Army of the Tennessee, disapproved 
the sentence, and ordered the man to be imprisoned 
at hard labor during the remainder of his term of en- 
listment, to forfeit all pay and allowances, and to be 
dishonorably discharged from the service ; and the 
order was executed. 

In November, 1863, the general orders of the War 
Department respecting the re-enlistment of " veteran 
volunteers" were published to the regiment.^ The 
original ordei' had been issued in June, but it was not 
made known in the array till some months later, after 

'General Orders No. 191, June 25, 1863, No. 305, September 11, 1863, 
No. 324, September 28, 1863, and No. 387, December i, 1863. 



VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 179 



it had been amended ; nor was any official step taken 
upon it as to the soldiers at Vicksburg till November. 
Under these orders, volunteers who had enlisted 
originally for three years (the case of the Fourth Iowa 
Cavalry), and who had served more than two years, 
could immediately re-enlist for the further period of 
" three years, or during the war." The advantages 
were to be, the honorable distinction of being Veteran 
Volunteers, a furlough of thirty days, and a bounty of 
some $400, to be paid in a number of installments. 
There was also to be a " service-che\a'on," to be worn 
by the " Veteran " on his sleeve, to make him proud in 
the presence of the humble recruit ; and it was pro- 
vided that if three fourths of the men eligible in any 
regiment should re-enlist, they should have the right to 
maintain their regimental organization and name. 

There was of course much talk about it among the 
old soldiers ; and it is very gratifying to record that 
the greater part of them at once expressed their desire 
and intention to re-enlist. Indeed, it had been already, 
from the time of their original enlistment, the expecta- 
tion or intention of the most of the men to see the war 
through to the end. 

As the first muster of companies of the regiment into 
the army of the United States did not occur until 
November 23, 1861 (although many enlistments had 
been made months before), there were no men eligible 
to re-enlist until after November 22, 1863. The re- 
enlisting was somewhat interfered with by the Natchez 
expedition, but within a short time the number required 
to make the Fourth a " veteran " regiment was enrolled. 
On the 11th, 12th, 14th, 18th, and 19th of December 
a large number volunteered in the different companies, 



i8o STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

and the making up of company rolls was then begun. 
On the 19th the whole number required was reached, 
though many additional re-enlistments were made 
down to the next March. On Christmas day the regi- 
ment was mustered in as " Veterans." 

Colonel Winslow took a great interest in the Veteran 
re-enlistment, and his active zeal and his confidence in 
the success of the war had much influence in the work. 
On December 21st he wrote to the Adjutant-General of 
Iowa that four hundred and forty men had re-enlisted, 
being three fourths of those eligible ; that one hundred 
and twelve men were absent ; and that there were about 
two hundred men ineligible, not having served two years. 
On January 1st Major Parkell, then in immediate 
command of the regiment, wrote to the same officer, 
saying that three fourths of the regiment had re-enlisted 
as Veterans, and that there were about one hundred 
men present who had served more than one year and 
had offered to re-enlist, but that the mustering-officer at 
Vicksburg had refused to receive them because they 
had not served two years. It should have been said 
that the original order of the War Department per- 
mitted the re-enlistment of men who had served more 
than nine months, but that in the Adjutant-General's 
Office at Washington it was held that that clause did 
not apply to men in three-years regiments. The men 
referred to by Major Parkell as refused by the muster- 
ing-officer were those who had joined from Iowa in 
1862. They had become excellent soldiers, quite as 
effective as any. Nearly all the companies re-enlisted 
about forty-five men each, the non-commissioned staff 
eight, and the aggregate was five hundred and forty- 
two. Company H had the honor of being the first to 



VETERAN VOLUNTEERS. 18 1 

enlist the proportion required. It liad fifty men 
and officers present and eligible for re-enlistment, of 
whom forty-nine re-enlisted. The one exception had 
recently married, with a promise to his wife that 
he would not enlist again. Six eligible men of that 
company were absent, but two of these were prisoners 
in the hands of the enemy and three sick in hospital. 
Company M stood next to H, re-enlisting on the same 
day a greater number of men, but not so great a 
proportion of those eligible. 

When the Veterans of the regiment celebrated their 
Ohristmas by being sworn in for three years more, they 
learned that theirs was the second regiment to re- 
enlist among the troops at Vicksburg. But, better 
than that, as they afterward learned, it was the first 
veteran regiment from Iowa. They did not then know 
of the re-enlisting in other Iowa regiments, but it ap- 
pears by the official reports that, with one exception, 
there were only a few scattered re-enlistments in other 
regiments before December. The one exception was 
in Company B of the Twelfth Infantrj. On October 
25th that company re-enlisted to the number required 
to make it a veteran company, but the other com- 
panies of the regiment did not re-enlist till December 
25th ; and of course the regiment was not mustered in 
as veterans till later. This distinguishing precedence 
gave the Fourth Cavalry great fame in Iowa. To 
honor its prompt action, a costly silk flag was pre- 
sented to it by patriotic citizens, through the Loyal 
Women's League of Iowa. In view of the meritorious 
record of Company H in the re-enlistment, this flag 
was assigned to that company, and in the veteran re- 
organization of the regiment it was given the post of 



i82 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

honor as Color-Company. Sergeants Henry M. Newhall 
and James H. Stocks and Corporal Amos O. Rowley 
were constituted the Color-Guard. The Fourth Iowa 
was veiy proud of this Veteran flag, and its beautiful 
colors shone at the head of the regiment in every 
battle from the day it was dedicated. It may still 
be seen, in tatters, in the Adjutant-General's Office at 
Des Moines. 

The next thing was to get the promised furlough. 
That promise was, indeed, a strong inducement to the 
re-enlistment. Furloughs had been very rare, much 
fewer than the men, when they first enlisted, had sup- 
posed they would be ; and only a very small number 
had seen their homes since they left them, more than 
two years before. And, as they were almost the first 
regiment of that army to re-enlist, they naturally 
counted upon being one of the first to be furlough ed. 
But there was to be another trial of their patience 
and zeal in the cause. The leave to go to Iowa, so 
anxiously awaited, did not come until the 1st of March. 
When, in January, it seeined to the men high time for 
General McPherson to issue the order for their fur- 
lough. General Sherman set about preparations for his 
great Meridian campaign. He was to start from Vicks- 
buro;, and he directed McPherson to hold on to all the 
troops he had there. While the regiment was grum- 
bling, Sherman appeared, and it was intimated that the 
regiment upon which he particularly relied to make 
this campaign a success was the Fourth Iowa. Would 
" the boys " kindly forego their furlough for a little 
time, and go along with him ? It was hard to give up 
the furlough, but they did it ; and they have alwaya 
been glad they did. 



BETTER ARMS. 183 



The spirit of the regiment was strongly emphasized 
by the I'e-enlistment, but hardly more by that than 
by an improvement in the arms which immediately 
followed. At last every man had a carbine as good 
as any then in the army. At Helena, as has been said, 
for some months forty of the men had ^' Hall's " car- 
bines. Before leaving Helena a small lot of " Union " 
carbines was received, and afterward, at Vicksburg, 
in June, more Union and some " Sharp's " were 
supplied ; but in all there had not been half enough. 
Now, in January, 1864, came some hundreds of new 
Sharp's. Several companies were thereupon armed 
wholly with the Union gun and the others with the 
Sharp, all other guns being returned to the ordnance 
officers. The Union and Sharp carbines were of about 
equal merit, and were, for that day, good cavalry guns. 
They were breech-loaders, of simple mechanism and 
easily carried^ but they required a paper cartridge and a 
percussion cap, and had to be recharged for each shot. 

It was very gratifying to have, at last, effective arms 
and enough of them ; and in iho very next campaign 
the men gave excellent proof of their capacity as 
soldiers when well armed. Their new carbines came 



in good time to make them famous in the Meridian 
campaign. 



CHAPTER VI. 

THE CAMPAIGN OF MEELDIAN THIRD CAPTURE OF 

JACKSON VETERANS FURLOUGHED. 

In the winter of 1863-4, after Grant and Sherman 
had retrieved the disaster of Chickamauga and secured 
a base for operations upon Atlanta, they set about their 
preparations for the spring campaigns. The greatest of 
these was to be the campaign into Georgia. To take 
Atlanta was to break the Confederacy again into two, 
as it had been broken at Vicksburg, for Atlanta was 
the only remaining gateway between the seceded States 
on the Atlantic and those on the Gulf. 

The army for this grand movement was to be made 
as strong as possible ; but the battles of Chickamauga 
and Chattanooga, the care of the long lines of trans- 
portation and great army trains, and the defense of 
innumerable posts and towns in the conquered territoiy, 
had diminished the troops in the field to such an extent 
that hardly half of the numbers on the rolls could be 
placed in line of battle. There were many regiments of 
experienced soldiers then at Memphis, Vicksburg, and 
other places along the Mississippi, doing hardly more 
than garrison duty. Enough for seven or eight 
divisions were so employed, at least the half of whom 
could be released for service in the Atlanta campaign 
if the railways and certain depots of supplies and places 

184 



THE CAMPAIGN OF MERIDIAN. 185 



of rendezvous of the enemy in Mississippi could first be 
destroyed. Meridian was mucli the most important of 
these places, as to both railways and depots. It was a 
small town in Mississippi, near the Alabama line, about 
one hundred and eighty miles directly east of Vicks- 
burg, and at the crossing of the Vicksburg <fe Meridian 
and Mobile <fe Ohio railways, within easy reach by 
rail of Selma, Montgomery, and Mobile. It was the 
centre of a fertile region never yet penetrated by Union 
troops, which was supplying a large part of the food of 
the rebel armies. Because of its position, it was the 
depot of great quantities of military supplies of all 
kinds and the site of many factories employed in the 
manufacture of military equipments. Even before the 
present occasion it had been a favorite idea of both 
Grant and Sherman to destroy the property there, 
especially the railways. They had thought, too, of an 
expedition against the place as auxiliary to a campaign 
against Mobile from the Gulf ; but, after some consid- 
eration, Mobile was left out of the plans now laid. 
The work finally determined upon was only the destruc- 
tion of the enemy's railways and materiel centred at 
Meridian. 

Mississippi was then in Sherman's department, and 
Grant gave him leave to organize and conduct the 
expedition upon his own judgment. In January Sher- 
man appeared at Memphis, and began preparations with 
characteristic vigor. He took two divisions of the 
Sixteenth Corps from Memphis and points near and 
below on the river, and sent them on to Vicksburg, 
under their corps commander, Hurlbut. To these were 
added two divisions of the Seventeenth Corps collected 
at Vicksburg, under McPherson. In all he brought 



1 86 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



together about twenty thousand infantry, with eight or 
ten batteries of artillery. He remained a few days at 
Memphis, to see that place left in proper condition for 
defense and to arrange for the movement of a large 
cavalry force, which had been ordered to rendezvous 
there, under Major-General Wm. Sooy Smith. Smith 
was to march upon Meridian from the north while 
Sheridan was marching upon it from Vicksburg. 

All the cavalry at Vicksburg at that time numbered 
about two thousand five hundred men for duty; but, 
from lack of serviceable horses, hardly more than thir- 
teen hundred could be put into the field. It consisted 
chiefly of the four regiments already mentioned, the 
Fourth Iowa, Fifth and Eleventh Illinois, and Tenth 
Missouri. This small body, in effective numbers hardly 
more than a full regiment, was all Sherman could have 
on his march between Vicksburg and Meridian ; and of 
course it was in numbers quite unequal to the cavalry 
work of the whole campaign as planned. Indeed Sher- 
man had laid out a vast deal of work. He meant to 
destroy so extensively and completely as to prevent any 
important operations by the enemy in Mississippi dur- 
ing the remainder of the war. It was not only railways 
and materiel of war that were to be destroyed, but also 
all means which could in any way be applied to aid the 
rebel armies, including bridges, factories, stores, ware- 
houses, cotton-gins and presses, as well as all grain, 
meat, cattle, horses and mules, in excess of what could 
be carried away by the invaders. And he meant to 
bring away all the slaves he could reach and all the 
white men who would come. The end of the war was 
now only a question of time, and the sooner the 
Southerners could be made to see that they had insuffi- 



THE CAMPAIGN OF MERIDIAN. 187 

cient means tlie sooner the end would come. At the 
same time it was more than usually important to have 
it distinctly realized by the people that this work of 
destruction was done for purely military purposes, and 
Sherman issued the most careful and stringent orders to 
prevent any act of wanton or unauthorized destruction 
or seizure, forbidding the soldiers, under the severest 
penalties, even to enter any house except under an 
express order and for a proper purpose. 

To enable him to do the work he thus had in mind 
and to protect his infantry against the large numbers 
of experienced rebel cavalry now in Mississippi, Sher- 
man needed on his side a body of cavalry, if not as 
large as that of the enemy, at any rate of equal 
experience and better equipped. 

The rebels had at that time about twelve thousand 
infantry at Canton and Jackson, under Loring and 
French, and some three thousand more between Jack- 
son and Meridian, with six thousand cavalry in the 
north part of the State under Forrest, and four thou- 
sand in front of Jackson and Canton under Stephen D. 
Lee. The whole was commanded by Lieutenant-Gen- 
eral Polk, with headquarters at Meridian. Polk was 
calling for reinforcements, but Davis and Johnston 
could not agree about sending them ; and when, on the 
17th of February, after losing several days in a duel of 
telegrams with Johnston, Davis peremptorily ordered 
him to send Hardee from Georgia with three divisions 
to Polk's assistance, it was too late. Hardee's advance 
reached Demopolis, sixty miles east of Meridian, a 
week after Meridian was taken. 

From the cavalry then in West Tennessee and a divi- 
sion just sent by Grant from East Tennessee, Sherman 



1 88 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

directed General Smith to organize a force of about seven 
thousand well-mounted men, and to set out on the 1st 
of February by the general line of the Mobile <fe Ohio 
road. This movement would necessarily occupy the 
attention of Forrest's cavalry north of Meridian, and 
might also draw off a part of Lee's from the front of 
Jackson. Smith was expected to meet and defeat 
Forrest, and was timed to reach Meridian by the 10th ; 
but he failed. One of his brigades, two thousand men, 
marching under peculiar difficulties from Union City, 
Tenn., did not reach his rendezvous until the 8th ; and 
he did not move his column toward Meridian until the 
11th. Then after he set out he moved so slowly that 
on the 19th, five days after Meridian was taken, he 
had got only to West Point, hardly half way to his 
goal. There, out-manceuvred by Forrest, supposing 
that Sherman was yet far from Meridian, encumbered 
by large numbers of confiscated animals and slaves 
and much plunder, he decided to turn back ; and, 
greatly harassed by Forrest on the way, losing sev- 
eral hundred men and some thousands of horses, he 
appeared at Memphis about the 25th. 

But the failure of Smith was, in some sense, the 
opportunity of Winslow. His small body of cavalry, 
being the only mounted men in Sherman's command, 
had plenty to do, with conspicuous opportunities and 
the unvarying fortune of brilliant success. 

On the 2d of February the regimental details re- 
ceived orders to march early the next morning. The 
Fourth Iowa turned out nearly four hundred men, under 
Major Spearman. It would have sent about two hun- 
dred more if it had had enough serviceable horses. Each 
of the three other regiments furnished a detachment 



THE CAMPAIGN OF MERIDIAN. 189 



about equal to that of the Fourth Iowa. The two 
James rifled 12-pounders, which had already done 
good service with the cavalry, were taken along, and 
two mountain howitzers were added, the four guns 
giving valuable weight to the brigade. Colonel Wins- 
low was instructed to operate the force as if it were a 
third corps of the expeditionary army, reporting direct 
to General Sherman. But at the moment of marching, 
three companies of the Fourth Iowa, C, D, and F, were 
detached for special service. Company F w^as assigned 
to duty as part of the guard of the pontoon train. C 
and D acted as advance-guard to McPherson's corps 
until Jackson was taken, when they became escorts 
respectively to Generals A. J. Smith and Veatch, com- 
manding divisions. At the town of Union, however, 
on the return march from Meridian, C and D rejoined 
the regiment. 

Early on Wednesday, the 3d, the cavalry marched 
from Clear Creek, in good condition and the men in 
high spirits. The infantry had already reached the 
Big Black and were crossing, Hurlbut by pontoon at 
Messenger's and McPherson on a temporaiy bridge 
near the railway bridge. The cavalry followed 
McPherson, but after crossing passed his column and 
took the advance. Soon afterward the enemy's cavalry 
appeared in front, and a skirmish followed. One man 
of the Fourth Iowa was dangerously wounded. The 
column steadily pushed on, the Fourth Iowa in ad- 
vance, and late in the afternoon reached Baker's Creek, 
near the battle-field of Champion's Hill. There the 
brigade bivouacked, its outpost well beyond the creek. 

The enemy's plan of operations required the em- 
ployment of the whole of Lee's cavalry, with several 



ipo STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

batteries of artillery, assigned to different brigades, 
to hold the country between Jackson and the Big 
Black, at least until the infantry could be concentrated 
for the defense of Jackson or of the crossing of Pearl 
River. But, as Sherman moved in two columns, Lee 
had to divide his force, and either Hurlbut or McPher- 
son could easily drive the division in his front. More 
rapid action than was possible to infantiy was wanted, 
however, and here was the value of the veteran cavalry, 
which, in its experienced management and prompt at- 
tack, made up in large measure for its small numbers. 

At half-past six o'clock on the morning of the 4th 
the command was in the saddle, on McPherson's right, 
on the Kaymond road. It had hardly started when 
the rebel cavalry appeared in front and opened fire 
upon the head of the column. The column moved right 
on, in fours, with a strong head of skirmishers thrown 
out, and was forcing its way along the main road when 
a body of rebels appeared on the left flank and made a 
dashing charge. The companies at that point were at 
once wheeled into line, facing them, and the rear 
regiment was ordered to oblique to the left, advance in 
column, and in turn assail their right flank. In this 
way the charge was quickly repulsed, and the brigade 
steadily advanced. Skirmishing continued for hours 
afterward, until, at "Walton's plantation, the enemy was 
found in line of battle. 

His line was formed on the farther side of an open- 
ing, among scattered trees, giving a fair opportunity to 
charge. The Tenth Missouri, in front, was ordered 
forward, made a charge, and steadily drove the rebels 
back across Baker's Creek, but not without severe 
fighting. The Tenth lost fifteen men killed and 



THE CAMPAIGN OF MERIDIAN. 191 

wounded. The rebels lost a major and captain killed, 
a lieutenant wounded, and left a number of men dead 
on the field. The other regiments of the brigade were 
drawn up under fire, in support of the Tenth Missouri, 
but it required no help. The Fourth Iowa had one 
man captured. Here the brigade encamped for the 
night, some distance to the right and in advance of the 
infantry. 

On the morning of the 5th the brigade moved at six 
o'clock, and, turning to the left at Woodman's planta- 
tion, arrived at Clinton with the head of the infantry- 
column, and passed to the front through that town. 
The enemy was now known to be in force, and was 
found in a strong position on a range of hills about two 
miles east of Clinton, covering the road to Jackson. 
He opened and kept up an artillery fire, showing 
apparently a determination to hold the position. 

The eastern verge of the town of Clinton rests upon 
a ridge, from which the enemy's position could be 
readily observed. The cavalry brigade was formed in 
the open valley to the west of this ridge. McPherson 
directed Winslow to withdraw the cavalry, and 
Sherman, coming up, ordered him to move through 
the woods to the south of the town, and, by turning 
upon some local road leading to the east, get upon the 
enemy's left or into his rear, near Jackson. The brigade 
rode rapidly through the woods, parallel with the 
enemy's line but concealed fi'om view, to and across 
the main road, then eastward, parallel to the road and 
a mile to its right, until it came to the residence of 
Judge Sharkey. This took it past the left flank of 
Lee's position, and brought it near the outer western 
iortifications of Jackson. The head of the column then 



192 STOJi Y OF A CA VALR Y EEGJMENT. 

turned to the left, crossed a small bridge whicli spanned 
a running stream, and suddenly emerged from tlie 
woods within sight of the outskirts of Jackson and in 
front of its defenses. 

The main column was still concealed by a wood, but 
had now come near its border. Looking out to the 
north, there were o]3en fields, rising by a gentle slope 
to the top of a ridge lying east and west, about a 
quarter of a mile away. Along the top of this ridge 
ran the main road from Clinton to Jackson. To the 
right could be seen, through spaces between the trees, 
the fortifications. To the left of the fields, half a mile 
west of the fortifications, were woods extending north- 
ward across the road which ran along the top of the 
ridge. It was just before the setting of the sun, and a 
flood of soft yellow light lay upon the scene. The 
Fourth Iowa was in front, and while the men stood 
awaiting further orders, they were peering intently to 
the front. The sight before them was one not often 
within the experience of a soldier. A column of the 
enemy's cavalry, marching in fours, was passing in full 
view along the ridge road in front, within rifle shot. 
They were moving into Jackson, and the head of their 
column had already passed the line of works, while the 
rear had not yet got out of the wood which lay west 
of the fields. They filled all the space within view, 
and there was no telling their whole number. 

It was plain that the enemy meant to defend Jack- 
son only while evacuating, and that evacuation wa& 
then going on. Sherman had said to Winslow, at 
Clinton, that Jackson would not be seriously defended, 
but that he must have the place that day if possible, 
that " the possession of it by to-night would be worth 



THE CAMPAIGN OF MERIDIAN. 193 

five hundred men to us," and that he would look to him 

to save the bridge over the Pearl. There was no time 

to lose, nor to wait for further orders. The rebel 

cavalry would probably move out to the north of the 

city, if they could not all get over the bridge in time, 

and the infantry might be now nearly over. The 

Fourth Iowa was at once dismounted, with the order, 

^^ Prepare to fight on foot !^^ and formed in three lines, 

column of battalions, on the right of the road by which 

it had just arrived. The lines were partly covered in 

front by small trees and bushes, thinly scattered 

between them and the fortifications and the top of the 

ridge. The Eleventh Illinois was rushed into line 

mounted, farther to the left, and the fence was thrown 

down immediately in its front, ready for a charge. The 

enemy easily saw these dispositions. Indeed, a group 

of their officers collected on their flank to observe 

them, and remained there until they were scattered by 

the fire. The two James rifles, brought up at a run by 

Captain Joyce, were hurried across the creek, took 

position on a low mound at the left of the road, and 

instantly opened fire across the fields upon the rebel 

horsemen. 

The first of Joyce's shells passed directly through the 

gray column, killing three men, and the next exploded 

near it. This threw the rebels into confusion, and their 

column at that point fell off to the left of the road, 

into the shelter of the woods. Winslow now ordered 

Colonel Kerr, with the Eleventh Illinois, to charge 

where the column was broken, while he (Winslow) 

went forward with the dismounted Fourth Iowa. Kerr 

charged at once. The Fourth Iowa, advancing at a 

run, made directly for the gate through which the 
13 



194 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

enemy was entering the fortifications. The Tenth Mis- 
souri, which had marched in the rear of the Eleventh 
Illinois, was now crossing the bridge, mounted. It 
was ordered to move by fours right ahead, to the inter- 
section of that road with the ridge road, and join in 
the charge. The Fifth Illinois was kept closed up on 
the rear of the Tenth Missouri, with the two howitzers 
in its front. 

The attack was successful at all points. The rebels 
yet in the woods west of the position fell back, and 
must have gone in haste across the country northward. 
Those in front along the ridge were routed and scat- 
tered by the charge of the Eleventh. Illinois, reinforced 
by the Tenth Missouri. The Fourth Iowa was met by 
an uneven fire from the fortifications, but its lines kept 
on at a run, changing direction slightly to the right, so 
as to face that portion of the works. The enemy's 
fire slackened and ceased. The men jumped into the 
ditch and clambered up the parapets ; and from their 
top they saw the enemy flying toward the middle of 
the town. Lieutenant Vanorsdol and his company (K), 
being on the right of the regiment, are entitled to the 
credit of being the first to mount the works. Immedi- 
ately afterward the left reached the road by which the 
enemy was entering, and cut off its column at that 
point. Those who had not reached the line of works 
then ran off into the woods, while those who had 
passed crowded upon the heels of their leaders in the 
street inside. In a few minutes the brigade occupied 
the whole field. 

Colonel Kerr's fine charge had gone right through 
the enemy's column, and when the Tenth Missouri 
came to his support he put a whole brigade (Starke's) 



THIRD CAPTURE OF JACKSON. 195 

to flight. He captured one of their new Rodman guns, 
turned it upon them, and drove them off to the north. 
But he deemed it imprudent to pursue far, as the num- 
bers and position of the enemy still on the left were 
unknown. 

The street running down the hill into the town was 
seen to be filled from side to side with rebel cavalry as 
far as the state-house, where they were turning to the 
north. Captain Joyce, who had been ordered up with 
his rifles, now arrived at a gallop, and opened on the 
retreating column ; but he could not depress his guns 
suflaciently from such a height. The fire only served 
to scatter the rebels into the cross streets and hasten 
their flight. One shot happened to strike the state- 
house, which stood near the middle of the city at the 
head of the street. With the Tenth Missouri and the 
two howitzers, leaving the Fourth Iowa and the Fifth 
Illinois to di*ive the defeated rebels out of the city, 
Winslow dashed directly through the city and on to 
the bank of the river. Every nerve was strained to 
save the pontoon bridge known to be on the river. 
Night had now come on, and some time was lost in 
finding the site; and when it was found it was seen 
that the end of the bridge attached to the w^est bank 
had been cut loose and had swung down the stream. 
The bridge was lying its length against the opposite 
bank, and was covered with men who were trying to 
destroy it with axes. The advanced companies of the 
Tenth Missouri fired upon these men, and they disap- 
peared in the bushes on the bank. The two howitzers 
were brought forward and opened across the river. A 
train of cars dimly seen through the trees thereupon 
immediately moved out, and the enemy abandoned that 



196 STORY OF A CA VALRY REGIMENT. 

bank of tlie river. Winslow's cavalry had taken the 
city and saved the bridge. 

The Fourth Iowa and the Fifth Illinois, divided 
into detachments, were posted in different parts of the 
city, to guard it and to hold the roads. Captain 
Joyce with his two guns remained on the hill where 
the engagement had ended. Meantime Winslow sent 
an officer to Sherman, at Clinton, to report that the 
city and the bridge were held by the cavalry. He 
requested that a brigade of infantry be sent forward 
to support him. The Iowa Brigade, under General 
Alexander Chambers, volunteered to come, and arrived 
about midnight. 

Sherman was delighted. It was a brilliant begin- 
ning of the campaign : Jackson taken, a good bridge 
captured, the most of the enemy's cavalry cut off from 
any immediate service, and all with a loss of less than 
twenty men. The great object being the capture of 
the bridge and the control of the Pearl, but little 
attention was given to lesser affairs ; and only about 
one hundred prisoners were taken. The loss of the 
enemy in killed and wounded was not known. Time 
was not taken to go over the ground, all of the troops 
being in rapid movement before daybreak, the infantry 
marching as fast as possible across the river and the 
cavalry on a reconnoissance toward Canton. But from 
the character of the attack, the short range, the dis- 
order and massing of the enemy, they must have 
suffered much. 

The bridge across the Pearl River being saved, Sher- 
man sent back to Vicksburg his pontoon train. The 
guard of the train, consisting of Company F of the 
Fourth Iowa Cavalry, under Lieutenant Woodruff, and 



THE CAMPAIGN OF MERIDIAN. 197 

a detachment of infantry, went with it. This guard 
marched all night without stopping, and delivered the 
train to General Tuttle, commanding at the raOroad 
bridge on the Big Black, early in the morning. That 
afternoon, at four, General Tuttle sent Lieutenant 
Woodruff with his company to carry despatches to 
General Sherman, who was believed to be then in 
Jackson. So, from Black River the company counter- 
marched to Jackson. It arrived there in the night (of 
the 6th), and had entered the town, supposing as of 
course that it was still in the possession of Sherman's 
troops. The advance was challenged in the street by a 
party of men, who, in the darkness, were supposed to 
be Union soldiers. Upon the careless answer " Yan- 
kees " came a volley of rifles. The last of Sherman's 
men had been across the Pearl some hours. Woodruff 
fell back, but soon learned that the place was occupied 
by Wirt Adams, who had just come in from Browns- 
ville with his cavalry. 

It was a serious responsibility for Woodruff. His 
company, of about thirty men, was alone between 
the Pearl and the Big Black, thirty-five miles from 
the neaiest accessible Union outpost. He could not 
remain in that region after daybreak. The only thing 
to be tried was another countermarch to the Big Black. 
This was immediately begun, the road lying not many 
miles off the line of the rebel cavalry from Brownsville 
to Jackson. The march was continued, with but little 
halting for rest, until daylight, when the bridge on 1:he 
Big Black was reached. Thus within sixteen hours 
these faithful soldiers covered about seventy miles. 
Woodruff reported his company to General Tuttle, 
who assigned it to duty with himself at the bridge; 



198 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

and it remained there until the regiment returned from 
Meridian. It did some scouting, and several times 
marched as guard to wagon-trains hauling cotton from 
the interior, a service w^hich v^^as of some benefit to the 
United States and of much benefit to certain citizens 
thereof whose virtue was unequal to the fascination of 
cotton-stealing. 

Another company of the regiment made a separate 
and creditable record on the day of the capture of 
Jackson. Company C had been detached the first day 
of the march and assigned to duty as escort to General 
A. J. Smith, who commanded a division of infantry. 
It was commanded by its captain, Warren Beckwith. 
It continued in that service more than two weeks^ 
rejoining the regiment about the 20th, at Uniontown, 
on the return marcVfrom Meridian. When Smith 
passed Clinton, on the 5th, he found a body of rebel 
cavaliy in his front who were disposed to hold their 
ground. Captain Beckwith was kept on the skirmish 
line until the infantry took the front, when there was 
some sharp fighting, with losses on both sides. He 
was then sent to the right, to make a demonstration 
upon the enemy's left flank. Moving in column on 
a road he found the line nearer than was expected, and 
immediately charged upon it. The line fell back, and 
the Captain, seeing that he might go too far, ordered a 
rally, but the first platoon, led by Lieutenant Dillon, 
not hearing the order, rode right ahead at high speed, 
into and through the rebel line. Quickly realizing 
what they had done, Dillon turned his men about and 
rushed them back, the rebels giving way on both sides, 
but sending after them a shower of bullets. There 
was no loss in the company. It brought off four 



THE CAMPAIGN OF MERIDIAN. 199 

prisoners, but could not tell whether the rebels had 
suffered from its fire. 

The capital of Mississippi had now been taken three 
times by Union forces ; and each time the Fourth Iowa 
had an important share in the capture. On the first 
occasion, May l^, 1863, it had led Sherman's advance, 
and had been among the first to get into the city, upon 
the heels of the enemy. The second time, July 17, 
1863, the city was evacuated after being invested and 
assaulted ; but the Fourth Iowa did important work in 
assisting to keep off the rebel cavalry on the north. 
And now, the third time, dismounted, it had led an 
assault upon the fortifications and upon the mounted 
enemy, which was made with such spirit and daring 
that the enemy's plan of defense during evacuation was 
defeated. As afterward appeared, Polk had been confi- 
dent of holding the city until his trains and troops, 
including the cavalry, were all withdrawn across the 
Pearl. With that purpose his cavalry had been all 
the afternoon slowly falling back upon the works, 
covering the movement of the infantry and trains, 
which were crossing the river by the pontoon, and 
maintaining a dogged resistance. The rebel generals 
must have counted upon the advance of Sherman's lines 
slowly and uniformly. The promptness and drive of 
the cavalry, miles in advance of the infantry lines, 
probably disconcerted them and induced the belief that 
the attack was closely supported by the infantry. 

Cut off by this successful assault, a large part of 
the rebel cavalry moved toward Canton, and either 
crossed the Pearl in that vicinity, or proceeded directly 
to the north, to aid Forrest in delaying the march of 
the Union cavalry under Smith. That portion of the 



200 STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

rebel cavalry which got over the Pearl at Jackson, 
with perhaps other cavalry already on that side, or 
which moved over near Canton, covered the retreat of 
the rebel infantry from Brandon toward Meridian. 

Early on the morning of the 6th, the infantry having 
hauled the end of the pontoon bridge into place and 
begun crossing, Winslow was sent with the cavalry 
upon a reconnoissance on the road to Canton. The 
brigade marched some miles on that road, and, without 
any incident other than the sight of a few scattered 
rebel horsemen and many proofs of the haste of the 
enemy's retreat, in wagons, ambulances, and equip- 
ments strewn along the way, returned in the after- 
noon and bivouacked near the Insane Asylum, north 
of the city, not far from the camp of the Fourth Iowa 
in the July preceding. 

On the morning of Sunday, the 7th, the cavalry 
crossed the river by the pontoon bridge, and taking a 
left-hand road six miles out (thus covering the left 
flank of the army) overtook and passed the infantry at 
Brandon about three o'clock in the afternoon. Just 
before going into camp the advance had a slight 
skirmish with rebel cavalry. 

The next morning the brigade took the front, leading 
McPherson's divisions, and almost immediately after 
leaving camp began skirmishing. The enemy fell back 
steadily and slowly, and kept up the fight nearly all 
day, all our cavalry regiments being engaged in turn. 
There was some loss in the brigade, but none in the 
Fourth Iowa. Seventeen miles were made, and camp 
ordered two miles east of Lime Creek. 

There was a sad incident of the fighting of this day. 
The rebel cavalry had made its last stand in the after- 



THE CAMPAIGN OF MERIDIAN. 201 

noon on tlie summit of a little hill, where there was a 
house surrounded by a yard. Some had posted them- 
selves in this yard and about the house, and fired from 
there, although they must have known that the house 
was occupied by a poor woman with a large number of 
children. It was not known to our skirmishers that the 
family was there, and one of their bullets struck the 
mother and killed her. When the rebels were driven 
off and the house was reached, the body of the woman 
was found lying on the floor, her children weeping 
around it. A guard was placed there, and directions 
given that the neighbors be called in to care for the 
dead and the children. The story was told to Sherman 
and McPherson in the evening, with the result that a 
generous fund was made up among the officers about 
headquarters and in the cavalry ; and the children and 
money were left with a kind-hearted neighbor. 

It seemed evident, from the manner in which the 
enemy's retreat had been conducted this day, that his 
main force was not far ahead. Accordingly, extra pre- 
cautions were taken that night. Indeed, the whole 
army was prepared for a battle that might occur in the 
morning". The cavalry brigade was to receive further 
orders during the night. 

Shortly after midnight the bands in the rebel army 
were heard playing. While the music was going on, 
Winslow received written instructions from McPherson, 
to form his force at daybreak and ascertain the enemy's 
position, when the infantry would move forward and 
attack if necessary. But further reports from the 
pickets during the night indicated that some movement 
of the rebels was in progress, which was reported to 
Sheiman. Just before daybreak the brigade turned 



202 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



out and moved upon the enemy's position, when it was 
found that he had retired. His rear-guard was over- 
taken, and with brisk skirmishing driven to and through 
the town of Morton, about four miles from the place of 
bivouac. Moving steadily on, the brigade was in a 
continuous skirmish as far as Shogola Creek, about 
seven miles beyond Morton. McPherson's infantry 
followed closely, in support. A number of rebels were 
captured during the day. The cavalry encamped for 
the night near the Shogola, on the plantation of a Mr. 
Coulan. Early on the morning of the 10th it moved 
forward through Hillsboro and over Ontoxaloo Creek. 
Skirmishing went on fitfully all day, at times obsti- 
nately. Bivouac was ordered just before sundown, only 
fourteen miles having been made. Some prisoners were 
captured and the column that followed the skirmishers 
saw thirteen dead rebels along the road. The most of 
these were killed in the taking of Tunnel Hill, a strong 
position which it was expected the enemy would 
defend with his whole force. 

On the morning of the 11th the brigade marched at 
half -past six, following and attacking the enemy during 
the day, and building bridges over the Tuscameta, 
Barber, and Conahatta creeks, branches of the Young 
Warrior, a tributaiy of the Pearl; and east of the 
Conahatta, about six miles west of Decatur, it camped 
for the night, having made about fifteen miles. On the 
12th the march went on, through Decatur and beyond 
the Chunky Creek, a tributary of the Pascagoula River, 
a distance of about fifteen miles. All day the rebel 
cavalry were just ahead, and the crack of shots on the 
skirmish line was continuous. The march of the 13th 
was begun later in the morning, but with the same sort 



THE CAMPAIGN OF MERIDIAN. 203 

of fighting. The fighting continued steadily, and only 
thirteen miles were made that day. 

The rebels were very active in all this work, and 
made every effort to impede and harass the march, 
felling trees in the road, destroying bridges, and firing 
from all points of vantage. On the Union side there 
was not only the fighting but a great deal of labor and 
difficulty in clearing the way, passing around obstruc- 
tions, and I'epairing bridges. Otherwise no doubt the 
enemy would have had to move much faster or accept 
a decisive engagement. As it was, they lost a good 
deal, not only in killed and wounded, but in property 
and arms captured; and every day's work increased 
their losses and added to the spirit of the Yankees. 

In the evening of the 13th, when the fighting was 
ended for the day, the column was about fourteen miles 
from Meridian and had just entered a wild tract of 
country, of rough hills, covered thickly with pine 
forests and almost uninhabited. The opportunity for 
obstruction was better than ever, and there was no 
forage or food in the region. It was therefore important 
to occupy this tract and pass it as quickly as possible, 
not to speak of the advantage there would be in 
diminishing the enemy's time to prepare for the 
defense of Meridian. 

General Sherman dii'ected Colonel Winslow to move 
on in the night of the 13th, and drive the rebels over 
these hills. He sent General Hurlbut with his two 
divisions of infantry to support the movement. When 
the order was received the brigade had just got into 
camp. It was mounted at once and pushed forward. 
Long after dark, at a place called Tallahatta, the enemy 
was found, engaged in felling the big pine trees across 



204 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

the road. The advanced regiment was dismounted and 
began the attack in line, with carbine ; the other regi- 
ments were held in reserve. The enemy slowly yielded, 
returning the fire. As fast as the leading regiment 
became tired or was otherwise detained, the next regi- 
ment was put forward in its place. Of course the dis- 
mounted men could not maintain a good line. They 
climbed and passed around or through the felled trees, 
moving from shelter to shelter, cheering and firing, and 
always gaining ground, until the enemy at last aban- 
doned the hills. When they reached the low country 
east of the hills, still in the night, they made a more 
determined stand. Here they formed two lines, one in 
the rear of the other, lying across the road, with their 
right fianks against a piece of woods. Winslow's 
advanced regiment immediately attacked the front line. 
At the same time the second line, by some mistake, also 
fired upon the first line. In the confusion that fol- 
lowed both lines broke up and disappeared. Not long 
after midnight the brigade halted and bivouacked, its 
orders fully executed. 

The invading army had now come to the last day of 
its march, and there was but little time left in which 
the enemy could make his dispositions for the defense 
of Meridian. But that night, the 13th, General Polk 
drew into the town all the troops he could muster for 
the defense, employing only his rear-guards in burning 
bridges and obstructing roads. So on Sunday morn- 
ing, the 14th, the cavalry brigade marched quietly 
along without seeing the enemy. At the Okatibbeha 
Creek, about two and a half miles west of Meridian, 
there was a delay caused by the necessity of rebuild- 
ing a long bridge which the enemy had burnt there. 



THE CAMPAIGN OF MERIDIAN. 205 

The pioneer corps was doing the work, with the help 
of the infantry. There was a wide marsh on one bank 
of the stream, and the bridge must cover that as well 
as the stream. Sherman was promptly on the ground, 
and in his impetuous, spirited, way urged the men on 
with the work of rebuilding. But with the best 
efforts of all employed, it would take many hours. 
Colonel Winslow wanted to disclose the position in 
front and to get possession of the hill seen on the east 
side of the stream, expecting that the enemy would be 
found not far beyond the creek. Without waiting for 
the bridge, he dismounted one regiment, the Fourth 
Iowa, got the men over by various devices, and sent 
them to occupy the crest of the hill beyond. Then he 
made a large detail from the other regiments, had the 
men tear down a cotton-press near by, and, using the 
long arms of the press and other timbers at hand, con- 
structed on the surface of the water a bridge strong 
enough to bear the men and horses carefully dis- 
tributed. Indeed, it succeeded so well that, by some 
strengthening, it was made to bear the four guns of the 
brigade, one at a time. 

The whole brigade over, it was moved up the hill, on 
the top of which was found a line of fortifications. No 
guns were in these works, nor any men, and the column 
passed inside of them without opposition. But the 
road now turned southward and entered a wood, where 
the enemy's cavalry were found. There was a line 
dismounted in front, supported by mounted troops in 
the rear. 

The Fifth Illinois, and especially its commander, 
Major Farnan, had been disposed to complain that the 
other regiments of the brigade had had more than their 



2o6 STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 



share of opportunities on tbis campaign. That regi- 
ment was, therefore, now given a chance to distinguish 
itself. Major Farnan was ordered to charge, dis- 
mounted ; and he did it mth such promptness and 
spirit that the dismounted line of the rebels was imme- 
diately broken and driven off, losing many prisoners, 
among them an officer of the staif of General Ferguson, 
whose brigade then held the rebel front. 

To press the advantage Winslow hurried up the 
three other regiments, and gave Ferguson no time to 
re-form before he reached Meridian. Indeed, on ap- 
proaching the town and observing that there was no 
artillery firing nor any general attempt to defend it, 
Winslow rode the brigade in at a gallop, seized the 
railroads, cut off a considerable body of the enemy's * 
cavalry who were trying to reach the Demopolis road, 
and, leaving one regiment to await the infantry, moved 
out on the road to the east by which it appeared that 
the larger body of the enemy's cavalry had gone. 
General Polk, with his infantry and artillery, had 
already got away by the railroad to Demopolis. Turn- 
ing over the town to the infantry, the cavalry bivou- 
acked where it ceased the pursuit, three miles out on 
the Demopolis road. 

The objective point of the campaign was reached, 
every step had been attended by success, and the little 
brigade of cavalry had distinguished itself every day. 

General Sherman issued a congratulatory order to 
the troops, " for their most successful accomplishment 
of one of the great problems of the war." He said that 
by the capture of "the great railway centre of the 
southwest " and the desti'uction of railways and prop- 
erty there, the enemy would be " deprived of the chief 
source of supplies to his armies." And, in a despatch 



THE CAMPAIGN OF MERIDIAN. 207 

to Grant, lie said be had "made the most complete 
destruction of railroads ever beheld — south below 
Quitman, east to Cuba Station, north to Lauderdale 
Springs, and west all the way to Jackson/' that is, in 
all about one hundred and forty miles. His order for 
the work of destruction is here given as an example of 
that branch of his military operations : 

Headquarters Department of the Tennessee, 

Meridian, Miss., Feb'y 14th, 1864. 

Special Field Orders, \ 
No. 17. \ 

1. The destruction of the railroads intersecting at 
Meridian is of great importance and should be done most 
effectually. Every tie and rail of iron for many miles in each 
direction should be absolutely destroyed or injured, and every 
bridge and culvert should be completely destroyed. 

To ensure this end, to Gen. Hurlbut is entrusted the de- 
struction east and north, and to Gen. McPherson the roads 
west and south. The troops should be impressed with the 
importance of this work and also that time is material, and 
therefore it should be begun at once and prosecuted with all 
the energy possible. Working parties should be composed 
of about one half the command, and they should move by 
regiments, provided with their haversacks and arms, ready 
to repel attacks of cavalry. The other half in reserve will 
be able to watch the enemy now retreating eastward. 

2. Col. Winslow, Commanding Cavalry, will keep his 
cavalry in advance of the party working eastward and will 
act as though this army was slowly pursuing the enemy. 

3. Special instructions will be given as to the general 
supply train, and the troops now in Meridian will, by proper 
brigade parties, collect meal, meat, and supplies. The de- 
struction of buildings must be deferred until the last minute, 
when a special detail will be made for that purpose. 

By order of Maj.-Genl. W. T. Sherman, 

L. M. Dayton, 
Aide-de-Camp. 



2o8 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

The infantry occupied tlie town, and was immedi- 
ately employed in destroying public property. Its 
headquai'ters remained at Meridian for nearly a week, 
and heavy details were sent out on the railroads to the 
east, west, north, and south. Great care and ingenuity 
were exercised in making the destruction complete and 
permanent. All locomotives, cars, depots, shops, all 
factories, arsenals, warehouses, and all supplies of every 
kind, in short, everything which could in any manner 
be made to serve as public property or aid in maintain- 
ing the rebel army, was burnt or broken beyond repair. 
All serviceable horses and mules were taken, all cotton- 
presses and ginning-houses were burnt, not even a wagon 
or cart was spared that might be used by the enemy. 

The cavalry moved slowly eastward, in advance of 
Hurlbut's infantry, on the Demopolis road, Hurlbut 
having been charged with the work of destruction in that 
direction. On the 17th it was ordered to Old Marion, 
a town a few miles north of Meridian, where it was 
encamped near A. J. Smith's division. 

Up to this time nothing had been heard of General 
Sooy Smith's cavalry, though it should have been 
found at or near Meridian four days before. On the 
18th Sherman ordered Winslow to move northward, 
to meet Smith or get news of him, but not to go 
beyond Lauderdale Springs, twenty miles north of 
Meridian. He sent along Major Audenreid, of his staff, 
with orders to Smith to turn over his division to Win- 
slow and report to Sherman personally at Meridian 
for further orders. Winslow's orders were, to join the 
two forces, move immediately upon Demopolis, and 
destroy all property there that could be used in war, in- 
cluding the steamboats in the river and the railroads. 



THE CAMPAIGN OF MERIDIAN. 209 

The column was moved with special caution, because, 
if Smith was near or approaching, Forrest's forces must 
be near too, as well as a part or all of Lee's, probably 
all nearer than Smith. The march was begun early in 
the morning, and Lauderdale was reached about dark. 
Many inquiries brought no news of Smith, but there 
was a rumor that he had been defeated by Forrest 
near Aberdeen, a place on the Mobile <fe Ohio road 
a hundred miles farther north. Two days later, on 
the 21st, Smith and FoiTest did fight at West Point, 
not far from Aberdeen, and Smith was driven back 
toward Okalona. And at Okalona, on the 22d, there 
was a more decisive engagement, with heavy losses 
to Smith, followed by his rapid retreat upon Memphis. 
Forrest suffered but little, except in the death of 
his brother, Colonel Forrest, who was killed in the 
action. 

Scouts sent in different directions from Lauderdale 
Springs reported before morning without news of 
Smith, but they had learned of three camps of rebel 
cavalry in the country, apparently a brigade in each. 
These must have been Ferguson's and a part of Koss^ 
men. Thinking it prudent. Win slow moved the 
column back about two miles toward Meridian, and 
placed it in position on the crest of a ridge running at 
a right angle with the road. This was hardly done 
when the pickets were attacked, but the attack was 
not followed up. Winslow sent a captain with his 
company (Neet, Tenth Missouri) back to the army, to 
make a report, and ordered him to return before day- 
light. Meantime the picket posts were strengthened, 
and the force was held prepared for engagement at a 

moment's warning. 
14 



2 lo Sl'OR V OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

Neet's company rode with speed, ran upon several 
rebel scouting ]3arties, and got back to tlie command 
by four o'clock in tlie morning. He brought orders 
from General A. J. Smith to have the cavalry return 
at once. The command thereupon marched back over 
the same road, to its former encampment at Old Marion. 

The army remained at Meridian six days, during 
vrhich time the cavalry brigade was constantly em- 
ployed in scouting and reconnoitring to the east and 
north, and in escorting foraging detachments engaged 
in gathering suj)plies from the surrounding country. 
In this service small bodies of rebel cavalry were often 
seen and occasionally fired upon. 

On the 20th, all the purposes of the army at Meridi- 
an except those which required the presence of Smith's 
division of cavalry having been accomplished, the 
army was ordered to Vicksburg. Partly that it might 
move on new I'oads and partly in the hope that 
Smith might yet appear, Sherman returned by roads 
to the north of those by which he had moved out. 

The cavalry acted as rear guard, marching behind 
the Sixteenth Corps. Nothing of note occurred during 
the first two days. Sunday evening, the 21st, the 
brigade bivouacked a few miles east of Union, about 
thirty miles from Meridian. The next morning, at 
Union, Sherman ordered it to march to the north, and 
make another effort to connect with General Sooy 
Smith. He directed Winslow, if he could not reach 
him with the brigade, to communicate with him in 
some way across the country, with orders to return to 
Memphis. And Sherman said he would meantime 
march the infantry on the direct roads to Canton, and 
would expect the cavalry to report there at about the 



THE MARCH TO VICKSBURG. 211 

time of his arrival. Canton, it will be remembered, is 
west of the Pearl, about twenty-five miles north of 
Jackson. 

The brigade was at this time entirely without 
rations, except coffee, but the men were experienced in 
living on the country. It left Union immediately, and 
marched directly north. The route was by Phila- 
delphia, a county-seat ; and a few miles beyond that 
town, at the village of Pearl valley, it crossed the Talla- 
haga (the upper Pearl), by a long, high bridge. A 
little further on there was another long bridge, crossing 
a large creek, a tributary of the Tallahaga. Both 
bridges were destroyed ; and the column arrived after 
dark at a large plantation, owned by a Judge Atkins, 
having made twenty-eight miles during the day. No 
considerable force of the enemy was met, although the 
advance guard followed constantly small parties of 
rebel cavalry. 

Ample supplies for men and horses were found on 
Atkins' plantation, belonging to him, as well as store- 
houses filled with corn and other provisions contributed 
in that country for the families of soldiers in the Con- 
federate army. The patriotic Atkins begged the 
Yankees to take the supplies in the storehouses rather 
than his own ; but, naturally, the unmanly petition had 
exactly the contrary effect. When the brigade marched 
the next morning, it was evident that men and horses 
had been fed and supplied for the march with a bounty 
careless of the judge's selfish prayer. But the punish- 
ment did not subdue his greed. When he found the 
brigade about to leave, he had the assurance to ask for 
a detail of men to remove some of the corn collected 
for the soldiers' families to his own cribs, to replace 



212 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

that which had been so freely used during the night. 
He would not dare to do it himself afterward, for fear 
the act would become known to the rebels. It is 
unnecessary to tell how the request was treated. 
Leaving the honest gentleman to his unhappiness, the 
brigade marched northward, on the road to Louisville, 
another county-seat, about fifty miles from Union. A 
little before reaching that place, the column moved to 
the left and occupied the road leading westward from 
Louisville to Kosciusko, Major Benteen with the 
Tenth Missouri moving on to Louisville, with orders to 
retire on the Kosciusko road. This detachment had a 
slight brush with the enemy's cavalry. A halt was 
now made to observe any signs of movement on the 
part of the enemy and to await the reports of the 
scouts who had been sent out during the day, in differ- 
ent directions, to get news of General Smith. These 
all came in reporting no news of him, and without 
having heard even a rumor of his presence anywhere in 
country. Yet West Point, where three days before he 
had met Forrest, was hardly fifty miles away. For- 
rest's headquarters were, however, then at Starksville, 
which was directly between Louisville and West Point ; 
and the scouts reported a large body of rebel cavalry 
at that place. A march further north would be at the 
risk of being cut off from Sherman, — a risk which 
ought not to be taken without a fair chance of joining 
General Smith. But up to this time there was no 
information whatever of Smith ; it was not even known 
that he had moved from Memphis. As no consider- 
able force of the enemy's cavalry had been met since 
the Union army left Meridian, Lee's brigades must 
have joined Forrest, or were those the scouts reported 



THE MARCH TO VICKSBURG. 213 

at Starksville. Winslow's orders were only to find 
Smith if he could safely, or to communicate his orders 
to him, if possible, and not to permit a general engage- 
ment unless compelled. So he decided not to go 
farther, but to send Smith's orders to him by courier. 
The fact was, as afterward learned, that both Forrest 
and Lee were in the country, with six or eight thousand 
cavalry, elated by a victory Just achieved over Smith. 

It was a hazardous venture for a courier, and vol- 
unteers were called for. Among those who offered, 
Winslow chose a man named William J. Spicer, a 
private in Company D of the Tenth Missouri, whose 
appearance and dialect best answered the purpose and 
who had a reputation for prudence and courage. He 
was an Arkansas man, enlisted in that State when his 
regiment was there, and he had the characteristic 
appearance, manner, and tone of his country. He was 
supplied with " butternut " clothes, received careful 
instructions, and set out to find General Smith and give 
him his orders. But his career as a courier was very 
short. He left his comrades the evening of the 23d, 
riding northward ; the next day he was hanged. He 
fell in with rebel soldiers, one of whom, unfortunately, 
had been his neighbor in Arkansas. This man de- 
nounced him, and the rebels, always impatient of trials, 
since they delay execution and may possibly prevent 
it, immediately swung him to a tree. 

Giving up the last hope of a junction with Smith, 
on the 23d the brigade moved to the west, crossed the 
Yockanockany, the western fork of the Pearl, destroyed 
behind it the important bridge there, and entered 
Kosciusko, the county-seat of Attala. There was some 
irregular skirmishing, apparently with reconnoitring 



214 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

parties from one or more bodies of the enemy's cavalry. 
At Kosciusko the column turned south, and on the 
evening of the next day, the 24th, reached the vicinity 
of Canton. Captain Fitch, with his company (H) of 
the Fourth Iowa, was sent east to Pearl River, to meet 
and report to General Sherman. The next day the 
brigade occupied Canton and awaited the infantry, 
which came up in the afternoon. 

Sherman's march from Union had been heralded 
throughout the country, and many persons fled from 
Canton and its vicinity before his arrival. The natural 
direction of this flight Asas toward Kosciusko, and the 
fugitives on the road were surprised and frightened to 
find themselves confronted by another Union force. 
Our cavalry met very many wagons, carriages, and 
vehicles of all kinds, conveying these trembling people 
and their property, men unfit for service in the rebel 
army, women, children, slaves, and a hurried jumble 
of household gods and goods. There were pitiful 
scenes in the despair of some and fear of death in 
others. The circumstances of each case were inquired 
into, and some of the people were permitted to pro- 
ceed, while others were required to return to Canton ; 
so that, as the brigade advanced upon that town, it 
found itself in the novel duty of escorting a procession 
of citizens, negroes, and vehicles, constantly increasing 
in size. Thoughtful troopers remembered, however, to 
exchange for the good horses and mules in the proces- 
sion, on the fixed principle that no cavalry command 
can ever have too many of that kind. 

But many a " boy " in the Union column, thinking 
of the " girl " he left behind in Iowa two years before, 
was much interested in another scene in that day's 



THE MARCH TO VICKSBURG. 215 



captures. Among the prisoners was a young rebel 
captain, who had come from Lee's army in Virginia on 
furlough, to be married. He was a handsome, spirited 
fellow, and excited more sympathy than he knew of 
among his captors. The beautiful young girl who 
was with him had become his bride just that morning ; 
and they fancied they were safely escaping from Sher- 
man's front to the delight of a honeymoon. It was 
hard for any Yankee with a spark of sentiment in his 
breast to witness the scene, — the handsome captain in 
his brilliant new uniform, struggling to control the 
bitter feelings excited by his mishap, and the beautiful 
bride, yet in her wedding array, distressed by dreadful 
fears and full of tears and entreaties. Colonel Winslow 
took the case in hand himself, and, with much polite, 
ness and kindness, quieted the lady, and convinced 
them both that after all the Yankees were not veiy 
cruel. He permitted the captain to remain with his 
bride, at a house by the road, until the last of the 
brigade had come up, when of course he had to fall in 
as a prisoner of war. 

As the column was marching along from Kosciusko, a 
man was met who came with a message from his wife's 
mother, requesting that the commanding officer and 
his staff take dinner at her house, on the I'oad a few 
miles ahead. He was a Northerner, who had married 
in Mississippi before the war, and had remained there. 
The column was halted at the lady's plantation about 
noon, the men to feed and care for their horses and 
take their dinner, while the officers accepted the invi- 
tation to dine with the family at the house. 

Very unfortunately some evil-disposed soldier or 
negro in the brigade set fire to the kitchen, which, as 



2i6 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



was the custom in the South, was in a building a short 
distance from the house. The dinner was rudely in- 
terrupted and brought to an end, and the guests, with 
some soldiers called from the camp, aided by members 
of the family, had to fight the fire. They succeeded 
in confining it to the outbuilding where it began. Of 
course this was exceedingly annoying, and it would 
have gone hard with the incendiary if he had been 
detected. That night, although the camp was on a 
plantation, it was placed at some distance from any 
building except a long row of slave cabins. Early the 
next morning, as the brigade was moving out, a man 
was seen setting fire to one of these cabins. He was 
arrested by Captain Fitch of the Fourth Iowa, and 
proved to be a lieutenant of the Tenth Missouri. His 
case was submitted to Greneral Sherman, and he was 
severely punished. 

Many of the officers and men of the Tenth Missouri 
had been driven from their homes in Missouri by 
neighbors or other rebels, and had joined the Union 
army in the hope of revenge. They were much more 
bitter against the rebels than were those who were 
fighting upon no personal grounds. There is no doubt 
that very many, or the most, of the unauthorized acts 
of destruction committed by men of the Union army 
in the South were committed by men, who, like these, 
had suffered in the " border " States. 

As soon as Sherman reached Canton, he announced 
his purpose to proceed rapidly to Vicksburg, leaving 
the army at Canton. He was impatient to see Banks 
at New Orleans, who was to have some of the Meri- 
dian troops for his projected Red River campaign. 
He directed Winslow to detail a regiment of cavalry 



VETERANS FURLOUGHED. 217 

for his escort. This gave an opportunity to remind 
him of the " Veteran furlough " matter. Whereupon 
the General thought that the Fourth Iowa was the 
very regiment he wanted. Lieutenant-Colonel Kerr, 
who had rejoined at Canton with his Eleventh Illinois, 
was placed in command of the remainder of the brigade, 
and early on the morning of the 27th the Fourth Iowa 
Veteran Cavalry, with the Colonel in command and 
General Sherman at the head, set out at a brisk pace 
for Vicksburg, over sixty miles distant. The infantry 
divisions were to remain five days at Canton. 

The men were told that their work was done and 
their Veteran furlough waiting at Vicksburg. They 
were riding now for Iowa — home ! The weather was 
fine and dry, the air exhilarating, the sun shining, there 
was plenty to eat, the horses were in good condition. 
The countiy was clear of the enemy, there was no 
skirmish Hue, no beating the woods for hidden gray 
riflemen. It was a charming holiday, with a more 
charming long holiday ahead. And to crown all, they 
had made of the campaign a splendid success, and, for 
themselves, had added to their reputation. 

The Veterans were quite as willing to ride fast as 
the General, and that night the bivouac was below 
Brownsville, forty miles from Canton. The stars were 
still shining the next morning when they were again in 
the saddle and on the way. Before noon on the 28th, 
about thirty hours from the time of leaving Canton, 
the regiment reached its encampment on Clear Creek. 
Indeed, a few men, especially zealous, got leave to 
go on the night before, and finished their lide of sixty 
miles from Canton before daylight and within twenty 
hours. 



2i8 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

The whole loss of the brigade in the twenty-six very- 
active days of this expedition was only twenty-seven 
killed, wounded, and missing, while it had caused the 
enemy a loss of many times that number, and had taken 
or destroyed large quantities of property. Of the men 
lost the share of the Fourth Iowa was only one wound- 
ed and two captured.^ The Tenth Missouri suffered 
most in the sharp engagement of the 4th, near Clinton. 
The losses of the infantry were hardly more than those 
of the cavalry ; it had, comparatively, but little fight- 
ing to do. The loss of the enemy in killed and wounded 
was not known, though it may safely be estimated at one 
hundred. About two hundred and fifty captured were 
brought back to Vicksburg. And in addition to the 
great destruction accomplished as one of the objects 
of the expedition, Sherman received and took to 
Vicksburg, in execution of another purpose, about 
one thousand white men and eight thousand negroes. 
In those days to take away a man, either white or 
black, even though not a soldier, was as effective 
against the Southern cause as to take a soldier. In- 
deed, as to the greater part of these negroes, their 
taking away was still more effective ; for they were 
soon afterward organized into regiments, and armed 
and put to service as Union soldiers. 

This campaign stands high in the memory of the 
Fourth Iowa. As soldiers it was an almost perfect 
experience for them. With fine sunshine and dry air 
the most of the time, the roads were good and exposure 
to the weather a pleasure rather than a hardship. No 
wonder the little brigade was glad and proud. Es- 
pecially the men of the Fourth Iowa, who had post- 

' See Appendix : " Engagements and Casualties." 



VETERANS FURLOUGHED. 219 

poned the pleasures of their furlough only to make 
them greater than they could have been before. They 
had marched in twenty-six days over four hundred 
miles, though attached to an army of infantry, and had 
taken part in four or five distinct engagements and 
many skirmishes, always with quick success. They 
had an agreeable change from the army rations in the 
food taken from the country ; they had confidence in 
their new arms ; they were always prompt and spirited 
in attack ; they moved as if they were sure to go ahead 
in spite of any obstacles. 

Almost without lying down to sleep the Veterans 
prepared for their journey to Iowa. They could hardly 
wait until a steamboat was made ready for them at 
Yicksburg. Contrary to the custom of furloughs, the 
men were in this case permitted, by a special order 
from General Sherman, to count their thirty days from 
Keokuk in Iowa ; for which again they cheered " Old 
Sherman " or " Uncle Billy," as his irreverent but affec- 
tionate " boys " called him. 

On the 4th of March about five hundred of the Vet- 
erans, with Colonel Winslow and most of the other 
officers of the regiment, as many as could be spared, 
embarked at Vicksburg, on the steamboat Constitution^ 
for Iowa. At St. Louis, on the 11th, the boat was 
stopped and the citizens surprised the regiment with a 
public reception, honoring them for their re-enlistment 
and their late brilliant campaign. On the 13th they 
landed at Keokuk, and on the 14th each man received 
his furlough, to date from the 15th, and went his way 
with joy. 

No one without the experience can appreciate the 
sweet and exhilarating feeling of relief and freedom in 



220 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



the bosom of the soldier of that war who suddenly 
found himself his own master amid scenes of peace. 
To go where he pleased and without orders, to eat his 
meals with his friends (" like a Christian," in soldier's 
phrase), to sleep in a bed and without need of a guard, 
to be rid of the strain upon body and mind of service 
in the field in the presence of the enemy ! It was a 
bit of heaven in the midst of harassing toil. 

But not all of the Veterans could go to Iowa at that 
time. There were some who, from their 2:)ositions in 
the regiment and other circumstances, had to postpone 
their furloughs for a time. The chief reason for de- 
taining these was in the needs of the recruits, a large 
number of whom had just been added to the regiment. 
In February and March over three hundred joined 
from Iowa, and were distributed among the companies. 
Only about one hundred of the old soldiers, re-enlisted 
and not re-enlisted, whose instruction and example was 
expected to be of value to the newcomers, remained in 
the camp. It is easy to see that.it is much better for a 
recruit to go into an old regiment than a new one. 
The old soldier is very clear that this is a sound prin- 
ciple ; and he tries to apply it to the education of his 
new friend in very practical ways, v^dth an eye not only 
to the future good of the service, but to present " fun." 
The recruit, smarting from the effects of his efforts to 
get expeiience, imagines the alleged kindness of his in- 
structor to be really persecution, and becomes more or 
less rebellious according to his intelligence and courage. 
Under such trials as these, and the added ones of the 
inevitable illnesses of new soldiers, the recruits strug- 
gled on toward the necessary toughness. There was 
nothing for them to do beyond ordinary camp, patrol, 



VETERANS FUELOUGHED. 221 

and guard duties, tliough no doubt that was to them a 
great deal. Unfortunately the measles got among 
them, as formerly in the camp at Mt. Pleasant. There 
were many cases, but not many deaths. 

The weather, very disagreeable through March from 
rains, grew better in April, the sick-list was not so 
long, the recruits became more contented and cheerful ; 
and when, near the end of the month, marching orders 
were received, the whole command was in good condi- 
tion and spirits. 

The regiment was commanded during this period, 
first by Lieutenant-Colonel Peters, and then by Major 
Spearman, Colonel Peters being advanced to the com- 
mand of the Cavalry Forces of the Seventeenth Army 
Corps (all the cavalry then at Vicksburg), a command 
which he retained till the regiment was ordered to 
Memphis at the end of April. 

When the furlough of the Veterans was expired, 
they reported to Colonel Winslow at Davenport, as 
ordered. They were joined there by a considerable 
number of recruits, and the whole body proceeded by 
steamboat to St. Louis. They were to stop at St. 
Louis, to be mounted. It is remarkable that the reo^i- 
ment was still deficient in serviceable horses. For a 
whole year there had been many men fit for duty, 
sometimes numbering hundreds, who could not be fur- 
nished with horses ; and now that the recruits were 
added, not half the regiment was mounted. 

The men were put into Benton Barracks, where the 
regiment had been in February, 1862, to await their 
remount. Fortunately they had the zeal and energy of 
Winslow in their service. There were four or five 
thousand other dismounted cavalrymen of other regi- 



2 22 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

ments in the barracks, also waiting for horses, some 
having been waiting there a long time ; and the quar- 
termasters then had on hand only about eight hundred 
good horses, which they were trying to distribute in 
small numbers in such a way as to satisfy the clamoring 
cavaliymen. Winslow telegraphed directly to General 
Sherman, then at Nashville, asking an order to take all 
the horses to mount his Veteran regiment then en route 
for the field ; and the order was immediately tele- 
graphed back. 

But Sherman also sent an order to Winslow, to move 
the regiment to Memphis and report to the general in 
command there. Accordingly the horses were taken, 
the necessary additional equipments obtained, steam- 
boats prepared for transportation, and, after a stay of 
but two or three days at St. Louis, the men were on 
their way down the river. At the same time orders 
were sent to Colonel Peters, at Vicksburg, to move the 
Fourth Iowa men from there to Memphis, with all camp 
equipage. 

The Veterans reached Memphis on the 24th of April 
and the men from Vicksburg on the 29th ; and the 
regiment went into camp, all companies together, on 
the eastern outskirt of the city, between the Pigeon- 
roost and Raleigh roads. 



CHAPTER VII. 

MEMPHIS EORREST THE BATTLE OF BRIOe's CROSS- 
ROADS SPENCER CARBINES FORREST DEFEATED AT 

TUPELO FORREST TAKES MEMPHIS ! INCESSANT CAM- 
PAIGNING FROM APRIL TO JANUARY. 

At Memj)liis the regiment was immediately assigned 
to the Second Brigade of the Cavalry Division of the 
Sixteenth Army Corps. General Grierson was in com- 
mand of the division, and Colonel Winslow was as- 
signed to the command of the Second Brigade. This 
left Lieutenant-Colonel Peters in charge of the regi- 
ment. 

The regiment had now about twelve hundred men 
in camp. Nearly six hundred recruits had joined dur- 
ing the winter and spring. In May its highest mark 
in numbers was reached. There were one thousand 
three hundred and fifty-four officers and men on its 
rolls in that month, though many were on detached 
service and in hospitals. But the recruits were not all 
capable of becoming effective soldiers. Indeed, many 
of them were, physically or mentally, quite unfit for 
the service. After the second year of the war, under 
the repeated and heavy demands of the government for 
more men, and in the feverish excitement constantly 
maintained in the North in urging enlistments, there 
was much more concern as to the numbers of the new 

223 



224 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

volunteers than as to their fitness. Many of the re- 
cruits obtained in the third year would not have been 
permitted to enlist in the first or second. It was even 
worse than that. The "bounties" offered after the 
first two years were so much increased as to excite the 
rapacity of a class of mercenary wretches who engaged 
in the search for recruits as a business. By various 
arts and deceits, they succeeded in getting into the 
camps many who were worse than worthless. Some 
of those sent to the Fourth Iowa were, at sight, proofs 
of shameful frauds upon the government. 

Surgeon Robinson found a number of these cheats 
on his sick-list immediately after they were received in 
camp. As the list increased his indignation was ex- 
cited; and he examined all the new men, to discover 
the extent of the fraud. Then the wrath of the honest 
old doctor was unbounded. He was never seen more 
aroused or active, nor ever more persistent in perform- 
ing his duties. The regimental officers, his superior 
medical officers, the general commanding at Memphis, 
the authorities in Iowa, all heard from him in unmis- 
takable language. To the Adjutant-General of Iowa 
he wrote boldly that he intended to "have some of 
those men discharged," and said "there appears to 
have been gross ignorance, extreme carelessness, or un- 
mitigated rascality practised in recruiting many of the 
men sent to this command. Boys under size and age 
— mere children — no development of the physical sys- 
tem — voices not changed from the feminine notes of 
boyhood. And others are broken down by premature 
old age and disease. The officers who recruited and 
the surgeons who passed such miserable material 
should be brought to a strict account for their ignor- 



FORREST. 225 

ance or perfidy." On hearing from the angry surgeon, 
General Washburn, then in command at Memphis, 
wrote to the Adjutant-General too, and quite as much 
to the point. He enclosed a list of fifty-seven names 
of recruits recently sent from Iowa to the regiment, 
with the report of Surgeon Robinson on each ; and he 
wrote — " The surgeons who passed these men and boys 
ought to be shot." 

Of course all such material was weeded out; but 
the doctors found plenty of employment in the sick- 
ness among the other recruits, who were still in their 
seasoning period. Field service, however, which now 
began, and continued with never ceasing activity for a 
year, relieved the doctors from much labor. Active 
service is much more wholesome than any medicine 
for a soldier, especially so in an unhealthful climate. 
Chasing Forrest, even at the risk of bullets, was a bet- 
ter means of health than prescriptions or a hospital. 
On the very next day after the men from Vicksburg 
landed at Memphis, the regiment began its share in 
the long and bloody warfare with that notorious 
butcher, which made of northern Mississippi and 
the border of Tennessee an almost unbroken scene of 
desolation. 

It is popularly believed of General Sherman that in 
his theory of war the first principle and the last is 
" destruction." If you are in earnest in war, the great 
thing to do is to destroy the property of the enemy. 
If you resort to strategy, let it be only to get you near 
enough to destroy. The more you can destroy the 
shorter the war will be. 

While he was in charge of affairs in the Mississippi 

valley, there were two objects which kept this passion 
15 



226 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

always at a zealous heat, and very Justly. One was the 
Mobile & Ohio railway and the other was Forrest. 
He was always bent upon breaking up that railway. 
From the Ohio to Meridian there was hardly a mile of 
it that had not at some time felt the skillful hands of 
his cheerful twisters. As to Forrest, he was continu- 
ally trying to find a general with smartness and endur- 
ance enough to catch the tireless cutthroat and destroy 
his forces. Having the railway at their back, as a base 
and a line of supply, Forrest and Chalmers had no 
difficulty in maintaining their cavalry in northern 
Mississippi. With headquarters near Tupelo or Cor- 
inth, they made themselves very troublesome in the 
latter part of 1863 and the most of 1864. They could 
at any time stop the use of the Memphis and Charles- 
ton road, by cutting it near Corinth ; and after Sher- 
man went to Georgia in September, 1863, they kept 
him in constant apprehension of their cutting the line 
from Nashville to Chattanooga by which his armies 
were supplied. In March and April, 1864, Forrest 
produced great excitement and apprehension by march- 
ing northward from Corinth nearly to the Ohio, captur- 
ing some small posts, threatening Paducah, summoning 
Columbus to surrender, and making his name forever 
infamous by the atrocious massacre at Fort Pillow. 
From that time every Union soldier burned for revenge 
upon him ; and it was the fortune of the Fourth Iowa 
that, from then till the end of the war, it; was almost 
continuously trying to catch and destroy him. It 
never succeeded as to him personally, but it had the 
great satisfaction to take a hand several times in his 
defeat, and the greater satisfaction of a conspicuous 
share in the final rout and destruction of his forces. 



FORREST. 227 



When Forrest and his men had done their savage 
murders at Fort Pillow, they marched in haste for 
their old camps in Mississippi. They could not long 
have existed north of that State. The bitter hostility 
already felt toward them was now intensified to ex- 
asperation. The available troops at Memphis were 
hastily thrown together and sent out in the hope of 
cutting them off. The Fourth Iowa arrived at Mem- 
phis just in time to take part in the movement. 

On the 30th of April the available force of the two 
brigades of Grierson's division was mounted and 
marched out, as part of a provisional army of about 
twelve thousand commanded by General Sturgis. The 
division was commanded by Colonel AVaring, of the 
Fourth Missouri Cavalry, the First Brigade being under 
Colonel Karg^, of the Second New Jersey, and the 
Second under Colonel Winslow. The Second Brigade 
was composed of the Third and Fourth Iowa and 
Tenth Missouri, with the two James rifles, under Cap- 
tain Joyce, which had been brought from Vicksburg. 

The march was directly eastward, by Moscow and 
Somerville, to Bolivar, which waa reached on the 4th 
of May. The enemy was not seen, and it was found 
that he had reached the Mississippi line, moving with 
speed to the south. A pursuit was undertaken, and 
continued by way of Salem, Miss., until Ripley was 
reached, about eighty-five miles from Memphis. There 
it was reported that Forrest was far ahead. The coun- 
try was stripped of food and forage, and the command 
was already at some distance from any depot of sup- 
plies. General Sturgis determined to abandon the 
expedition and return to Memphis. This was done by 
nearly the same route the advance had been made 



228 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

upon; and Memphis was reached on the 12th. The 
cavalry had marched about two hundred and fifty- 
miles in the twelve days, much of the distance by 
night, and there was but little time, day or night, 
when the men were not in the saddle and upon the 
strain of attention. The horses suffered severely, 
having to do their work with very little rest and upon 
very scanty forage, some days with none. The men 
had been required by orders to carry one hundred 
rounds each, about three times the usual supply and 
an unreasonable addition to the loads of the horses. 

The men who had not gone upon the expedition 
were left in a temporary camp near the western border 
of Memphis. Under orders they moved the camp 
farther north, and established it on the Raleigh road,^ 
about two miles from "Jackson Square" in Memphis. 
It was a good ground, well drained, and in a grove of 
small trees. The men were busily employed in con- 
structing and improving the camp; and the recruits 
had, if possible, more to do than the veterans. Colonel 
Winslow was incessantly active and energetic in keep- 
ing the men of the brigade up to their best efforts in 
improving their condition and increasing their efficiency. 
Lieutenant-Colonel Peters, commanding the regiment, 
was equally determined that it should keep well ahead 
of the other regiments of the brigade in cleanliness, 

' This was the " New " Raleigh road. The camps of the Fourth Iowa were 
just south of that road, on both sides of Marley Avenue, extending from 
"Parson" Knott's house on the west to Mosby Avenue on the east. Regi- 
mental head-quarters were on the east side of Marley Avenue, the right of the 
line resting on the avenue, a little north of Mrs. Cavan's house, which was on 
the west side of the avenue. The pretty house of Mrs. Cavan has been burnt since 
the war, but Parson Knott's is still standing. This camp was the home of the 
regiment eight months, though many of the men were but little acquainted 
with it, being there only in the short intervals between campaigns. 



FORREST. 229 

fighting equipment, and the care of the horses, even if 
at the expense of the other virtues. The lazier men 
grumbled, and wanted to know whether thej were 
being prepared for heaven, to which the Colonel r^ 
])lied, that they had only to stay in that regiment a 
little longer to find out. Even the trumpeters were 
astonished to find themselves compelled to earn their 
positions by acquiring a reputation for blowing well 
and in concert, arts which up to this time had been 
beyond their attainment. They were required to 
practice together several hours a day, which they did 
in a wood near the camp, to the great disgust of most 
of them and the great discomfort of the other soldiers, 
who were vexed by the discordant din. Between the 
mutiny of his subordinates, who objected to such 
drudgery, and the impolite remarks of the other men, 
who thought they heard enough of the bugles on other 
occasions, the. Chief-Trumpeter found life hardly worth, 
living. 

General C. C. Washburn was then in command at 
Memphis. He was a good officer, zealous, energetic, 
and very patriotic, but his credulity led him at times 
into errors which caused the soldiers much fruitless 
labor. He was constantly excited by the highly-colored 
tales or inventions of his scouts and spies. One of 
them, a woman, told him, in the latter part of May, 
that Chalmers, the rebel general, was about to go to 
Hernando, in Mississippi, and would visit a relative 
there on a certain day. This is the James K. Chalmers 
who has been conspicuous in the peculiar politics of 
Mississippi since the war. He was Forrest's light 
hand at that time, and was high game. Washburn 
was immediately anxious to capture him ; and he 



230 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



ordered Winslow to march to Hernando, with fifteen 
hundred men, for that purpose. That number was 
ordered upon the supposition that Chalmers' brigade 
would always be found with or near him. The Third 
and Fourth Iowa and Tenth Missouri furnished the 
number of men required, in about equal detachments, 
and Wiuslow went in command. To lessen the risk of 
discoveiy by the enemy, the march was made by night 
and with the greatest speed possible. The column left 
Memphis at ten o'clock the night of May 29th, and, 
moving very rapidly directly toward Hernando, reached 
there, about twenty-five miles, by daybreak. Strong 
detachments were thrown out to the right and left, 
surrounding the town. Closing in then and entering 
the streets, no rebels were found there, nor could any 
news be obtained of Chalmers. Officers were sent out, 
with several companies each, some miles on all the 
roads, without discovering any rebels ; and the only 
information obtained was to the effect that Chalmers 
had no relative at Hernando nor any occasion to go 
there. At noon, the expedition having proved to be 
useless, the column was countermarched, and returned 
to Memphis, where it arrived at eight in the ev^ening. 
About sixty miles had been marched within twenty- 
two hours, including the eight hours halt at Hernando, 
Meantime Sherman had directed Washburn to send 
General Sturgis, with all available troops at Memphis, 
upon another expedition against Forrest and the Mobile 
<fe Ohio road. It appears that in ordering this cam- 
paign Sherman's object was, not only to destroy For- 
rest, but to keep the rebel cavalry off his commu- 
nications while he was operating against Atlanta; 
and he says that this latter object was assisted by 



FORREST. 231 



Sturgis' campaign, even though it was in itself so 
disastrous.^ 

General Sturgis was a West Point officer, a major in 
the Fourth United States Cavalry and a brigadier- 
general of volunteers. He had done well in command 
of a division in the Army of the Potomac at Fred- 
ericksburg and at Antietam, but before this summer 
he had not been assigned to any independent com- 
mand in field operations. He appears to have been 
fretful and much given to bothering himself about 
little things; and he was guilty of that weakness 
which proved fatal to several West Point officers 
during the war, the superficial notion that volunteers 
could not be depended upon to fight. A general who 
does not believe in his men had better not go out with 
them. It would be wiser to avoid the command than 
to risk a defeat which could be explained only by 
bewailing an imagined difference in fighting qualities 
between volunteers and regulars. It is true, and quite 
natural, that volunteers, when they are green, without 
discipline and without experience, though they some- 
times fight desperately, will at other times break or 
fail to do the work expected of them ; but such 
instances were comparatively rare during the Civil 
AVar, and in the summer of 1864 a very large part of 
the volunteers had been two or three years in the field, 
and had had quite as much experience as any troops in 
the regular army. Indeed, the most of the men under 
Sturgis on this expedition were not only " Veterans," 
so-named in the organization of the army, but were in 
fact the veterans of many successful campaigns. They 
had proved on many fields, in many times of peiil and 

' Sherman's Report of Atlanta Campaigns, dated September 15, 1864. 



232 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



hardship, that they were good and effective soldiers. 
If they shouhi fail iu one campaign after succeeding in 
many, the presumption must be that their failure was 
due to bad management. In the campaign now to be 
described this presumption became a historical fact. 
The whole record of the war may safely be challenged 
for an instance of equal blundering and incapacity on 
the part of the general commanding. 

The army now organized by Sturgis numbered about 
eight thousand. There was a division of infantry, five 
thousand men and twelve guns, commanded by Colonel 
William L. McMillen, of the Ninety-fifth Ohio, divided 
into three brigades. The smallest brigade, twelve 
hundred, was composed of Colored troops, under 
Colonel Bouton. There was a division of three thou- 
sand cavalry, commanded by General Grierson, with 
eight guns (two of them small howitzers), in two bri- 
gades of about equal strength. The First Brigade was 
under Colonel George E, Waring, Jr., who had com- 
manded the division in the first campaign against 
Forrest, and the Second under Colonel Winslow. The 
Second Brigade started with only two guns, the 
12-pounder James rifles which had been attached to 
Winslow's command at Vicksburg ; but on the march. 
Captain Lee, of the Seventh Wisconsin Battery, was 
ordered to report to Winslow with two of his guns. 
The Third and Fourth Iowa, with one hundred and 
forty men from the Tenth Missouri and about one 
hundred temporarily added from the Seventh Illinois, 
composed the Second Brigade. The Fourth Iowa 
left camp with seven hundred and six men and officei-s, 
commanded by Major Pierce, and the Third with five 
hundred and thirty-five, commanded by Lieutenant- 



FORREST. 233 

Colonel Noble. There was a train of two hundred 
and fifty six-miile wagons, loaded with rations, forage, 
and ammunition. 

It was left to General Sturgis to choose the route 
and the methods by which he was to gain the objects 
of the expedition ; and, accordingly, he proposed to 
move by way of Salem upon Corinth ; to take that 
place, if defended; to proceed thence southward, de- 
stroying the railway as far as Okalona, and, if possible, 
as far as Columbus ; to march thence westward to 
Grenada, on the Mississippi Central railway, and 
then to return to Memphis. 

The Fourth Iowa was just returned from the march 
to Hernando when it was ordered out upon this new 
campaign. It moved with its brigade from Memphis 
on the first day of June, as guard to the wagon train of 
supplies and ammunition. That night it bivouacked 
at Colliersville, twenty-four miles from Memphis. The 
next morning it reached Lafayette, nine miles further, 
where it was relieved from the guard duty, and the 
cavalry brigades were united. The whole division 
then moved by easy marches on the road to Salem, 
which place was reached on the 3d. It began raining 
the first night out, and rained heavily and often every 
day for a week thereafter. The roads became very 
heavy, and the artillery and wagons were moved 
slowly and with great labor. For some days the 
cavalry was marched at the pace of the trains, but on 
Sunday, the 5th, it was ordered ahead, and a detach- 
ment of "Waring's brigade, with the Tenth Missouri 
and the Seventh Illinois detachments of Winslow's 
brigade, all under Colonel Karge, of the Second New 
Jersey Cavalry, was sent to and beyond Ripley, with 



234 STOJiY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

orders to destroy the railway at Rienzi and then the 
bridge over the Tuscumbia River. The remainder of 
the division moved on toward Ruckersville. The rain 
that day was remarkably heavy and constant. On 
Monday the column reached Ruckersville, marching 
slowly, the infantry having very hard work with the 
great wagon-train in the deej) mud. 

Believing, upon Karge's success, that Corinth was 
abandoned, Sturgis turned south, and by the worst of 
roads entered a region he knew to be utterly destitute. 
On the 7th, near Ripley, the advance, the Fourth Iowa, 
was attacked, and a body of rebel cavalry was de- 
veloped. There appeared to be several hundred.' The 
reo^iment was thrown into line of battle and continued 
its advance. Sharp skirmishing followed, and the enemy 
retired toward Ripley. Two companies of the Fourth 
Iowa and one of the Third Iowa then charged along the 
road, driving the rebels into and beyond the town. The 
Third Iowa lost one killed, the Fourth two wounded 
and three captured.^ Six dead rebels were found on 
the field. When the town was taken the division was 
ordered into camp, and the Fourth Iowa bivouacked 
on the New Albany road, four miles east of Ripley. 

On the 8th Waring's brigade was held at Ripley 
and Winslow's moved eastward, toward Fulton, keep- 
ing the advance alone all this day and the next. The 
rain still fell and the march of the army was more and 
more impeded by the deep mud and the difficult pass- 
age, of swollen streams. In the intervals of the copious 
showers the sun shone through a thick, still atmos- 
phere, making it excessively sultry. Every physical 

' This was Rucker's lirigade of Chalmers' division. Jordan's " Campaigns of 
Forrest," p. 466. 

■^ See Appendix : " Engagements and Casualties." 



THE BATTLE OF BRICE'S CROSS-ROADS. 235 

effort was toilsome and slow. About four hundred of 
the infantry, sick and worn out, and fifty broken and 
emptied wagons, were, on the 9th, started back to Mem- 
phis. 

Greneral Sturgis says that at this time he seriously 
considered the abandonment of the expedition. The 
men were greatly fatigued and the animals in yet worse 
condition, owing to their extraordinary labors in mud 
and water during eight days, the delay had given 
Forrest ample time to concentrate his forces in front, 
and the state of the roads and bridges made it probable 
that the artillery and train would be lost in case of 
defeat. In a council with his division commanders, 
however, it was decided that, as he had but recently 
abandoned another expedition charged with the same 
object, the march should be continued. He w^as also 
influenced by the consideration, upon information Wash- 
burn had given him, that there could not be any large 
force of the enemy in his front. But this information 
was given him at Memphis, a hundred miles away and 
ten days before ! He says his own information led to 
the same conclusion, but that it was exceedingly mea- 
gre and unsatisfactory. 

So he moved forward with a small array in very bad 
physical condition, in the worst of weather, over a 
country made extremely difficult by prolonged and 
excessive rains, expecting to lose all guns and wagons 
in case of defeat, and ignorant of the strength and po- 
sition of his enemy. This is, in brief, his own state- 
ment. Comment can hardly add force to it. The 
statement of itself makes it painfully clear that, if he 
had any military judgment, it was wholly inadequate to 
the position he held. 



236 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



In the evening of the 9th the cavalry reached Stubbs' 
plantation, fourteen miles east of Kipley and about ten 
west of Guntown, a small place on the Mobile <fe Ohio 
road. At Stubbs' the road forked, the left branch go- 
ing northeast to Corinth and the right east to Guntown. 
The Fourth Iowa, in advance, had observed the enemy's 
cavalry falling back before it. The division bivouack- 
ed at Stubbs', Waring's brigade having come up from 
Ripley. The next morning, Friday, at five o'clock 
Waring's brigade moved out in advance on the Gun- 
town road, Winslow following closely. The infantry 
moved later and soon fell behind. It was again dread- 
fully hot and sultry. At eleven o'clock Waring's 
brigade encountered the enemy's cavalry at the cross- 
ing of Tishomingo Creek. 

Approaching from Ripley, when within three quar- 
ters of a mile of the creek the ground falls away 
abruptly, by a row of spurs pointing eastward and 
covered with thick woods, to the bottom land. The 
New Albany road, coming in from the southwest on 
this bottom, joins. the Ripley road a quarter of a mile 
west of the creek. The space between the New Albany 
road and the creek was filled in with dense forest, 
while immediately west of the New Albany road were 
open fields extending to the Ripley road and to the 
spurs or hills on the west. On the north of the Ripley 
road all the bottom land was covered by forest. East 
of the creek and south of the Ripley (hereafter called 
the Guntown) road the bottom lands continued, being 
about one quarter of a mile wide near the road and 
rapidly widening toward the south, all enclosed in 
fields. From the eastern border of this bottom the 
land rose, by wooded spurs or hills similar to those 







600 



J ZOO 



^CALE 

BATTLE OF BRICE'S CROSS-ROADS, OR GUNTOWN | 
(CALLED BY THE CONFEDERATES " TISHOMINGO CREEK |"), 
JUNE 10, 1864. 



iSOO YAROS 



awaiting 



9- 

lo. 



'3i 14- 



'7 



i8. 



1. Erice's house. 

2. " store. 

3. Bethany Church (thenV 

4. Position Winslow's Brigade, 

orders. 

5. 6, 7. Waring's line in action, dismounted. 

5. Fourth Missouri Cavalry. 

6. Seventh Indiana Cavalry. 

7. Second New Jersey Cavalry. 

8. Waring's skirmish line, 200 men of tho 
Third and Ninth Illinois Cavalry. 
Waring's 4 howitzers in action. 
Section Fourteenth Indiana Battery, at- 
tached to Waring. 
12. Winslow's Brigade in action, dis- 
mounted. 

11. Third Iowa, 3 battalions. 

12. Fourth Iowa, 2 battalions. 
Tenth Missouri and Seventh Illinois, 

200 men, holding Pontotoc road. 
15, j6. Lee's and Joyce's guns (4) of Wins- 
low's Brigade in action. 
Same guns, last position before re- 
treat. 
Position of Waring after relieved by 
infantry. 
Last position of Fourth Iowa, 2 battalions, 

near log cabin. 
22. Last position of Tenth Missouri and 
Seventh Illinois. 
23-27. Hoge's Brigade, first position in action. 

23. 113th Illinois. 26. 95th Illinois. 

24. I20th Illinois. 
2i;. ic8lh Illinois. 

Wilkin's Brigade, 
action. 

28. 114th Illinois. 

29. 93d Indiana. 

30. 9th Minnesota. 
Chapman's Battery, 
Fitch's Battery, 4 guns, in action. 

Mueller's 2 guns in action, in front of log 
cabin. 
McMillen's second position. 

36. 9Sth Ohio. 39. 114th Illinois. 

37. 113th Illinois. 40. 93d Indiana. 

38. 8ist Illinois. 41. 9th Minnesota. 
McMillen's last position. 

42. 72d Ohio. 44. 93d Indiana. 

43. 95th Ohio. 45. 9th Minnesota. 
Forrest's line, 4 brigades. 

46. Johnson's Brigade, 4 regiments. 

47. Lyon's Brigade, 4 regiments. 

48. Rucker's brigade, 3 regiments. 

49. Bell's Brigade. 3 regiments. 
Forrest's guns, Ferrell s, Morton's, and 

Rice's Batteries, 12 guns. 
Led horses of Winslow's Brigade. 
The train parked here. _ 
Position assigned Winslow's Brigade 

when ordered from the field. 



19, 19. 



21, 



28-32. 



33. 33- 

34, 34- 
35- 

36-41. 



42-45- 



4D-49. 



27. 8ist Illinois, 
first 



position in 

95th Ohio. 
72d Ohio. 

4 guns, in action. 



31- 
32- 



51- 
52- 
53- 



THE BA TTLE OF BRICKS CROSS-ROADS. 237 

west of tlie creek, until, in tlie vicinity of Brice's house, 
it became a plateau about one hundred feet higher 
than the creek. Just north of the Guntown road, near 
the creek and opposite the fields last mentioned, was a 
separate hill or mound covered with wood. It was 
probably fifty feet high and several hundred in diam- 
eter either way at its base. The Guntown road ran 
partly around this mound, bearing northwestward and 
then east, rising rapidly to the plateau. Half a mile 
from the creek, at Brice's house, it crossed the road 
running from Pontotoc to Baldwyn. The battle takes 
its name from this place, though it is often called 
" Gunto\\Ti " and sometimes " Tishomingo Creek." In 
the northwest angle of the cross-roads was Brice's 
house, in the northeast angle his store, and on the road 
a few hundred yards to the north was Bethany Church. 
This church (since rebuilt on the Guntown road) gives 
its name to the postoffice. North of the Guntown and 
east of the Baldwyn road the ground was all covered 
by wood, the most of it being a remarkably thick 
growth of blackjack oak. South of the Guntown and 
east of the Pontotoc road the condition was similar, 
except that in places the wood was somewhat open, with 
scattered large trees. On the right of the Guntown 
road, four hundred yards east of the cross-roads, there 
was a large cotton-field. North of the Guntown road, 
parallel with it and within five hundred yards, was a 
wooded ravine through which a small stream ran directly 
west to the Tishomingo. The Tishomingo is a stream 
of important size, and it was then full from the recent 
rains. Its banks were veiy soft, and impassable for 
horses in any number. The bridge was narrow and old, 
and was the only one on the creek within several miles. 



238 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

Supposing that the enemy would offer some resist- 
ance at the bridge, Grierson sent Waring's brigade 
forward (it being already in the advance) and ordered 
Winslow's into column of battalions, to await further 
orders. Winslow formed his column, as directed, in 
the open field in the angle of the Ripley and New 
Albany roads. His position was thus concealed fi'om 
the bridge and the creek by the intervening forest. 
The brigade stood in this field, mounted, awaiting 
orders. Waring's brigade moved on, took the bridge, 
though not without some opposition, crossed, and 
advanced toward the cross-roads. 

While his brigade was waiting in the field Winslow 
rode forward, to observe the situation and receive 
orders. Grierson was with Waring's brigade, directing 
its movement in person. Waring was half a mile north 
of the cross-roads, dismounted, his line extending from 
the Baldwyn road toward the Guntown road. He 
was then engaged with the enemy, though at a dis- 
tance, and was throwing shell from his two small 
howitzers. 

It had been Grierson's belief that there were only 
some six hundred rebels in his front, and he had 
expected to drive them on quickly. Upon his report 
to Sturgis, to that effect, he was ordered to move, with 
the greater part of his division, toward Baldwyn, leav- 
ing six or seven hundred to continue the march east- 
ward on the Guntown road, at the head of the infantry 
column. Sturgis then rode up to the cross-roads, 
apparently with the idea that his column was to pro- 
gress without trouble to the railroad at Guntown, now 
only a few miles ahead. Grierson accordingly ordered 
Winslow to bring up his brigade, which was imme- 



THE BATTLE OE B RICE'S CROSS-ROADS. 239 

diately done. But the enemy increased his fire upon 
Waring's line, and there was every appearance of a 
serious battle coming. 

There had been a great mistake. The rebels in front 
were not a few hundred, but Forrest's whole available 
force, himself at the head. They were probably six 
thousand, being the brigades of Bell, Rucker, Lyon, 
and Johnson, all dismounted, with the batteries of 
Rice, Morton, and Ferrell, twelve guns. Sturgis says 
the most intelligent officers estimated them at from 
fifteen to twenty thousand, but this estimate must have 
sprung from fears or mortification in defeat. If Forrest 
had had fifteen or twenty thousand, Sturgis would 
have lost, not the quarter, but the whole of his army. 
Forrest was never in command of a force as large as 
that, nor had he the means of collecting such a one in 
northern Mississippi after the fall of Vicksburg. He 
could not have been much stronger in numbers in June 
than he was in February, when, to oppose the advance 
of General Sooy Smith in the Meridian campaign, he 
could not raise more than seven thousand. Indeed, 
notwithstanding the great advantage of complete vic- 
tory in this engagement, he and his superior officer, 
Lieutenant-General Lee, only a month later. Joining 
their forces and collecting all they could in the State, 
mustered no more than about twelve thousand. 

Forrest had thrown his lines across the Guntown 
and Baldwyn roads, on ground a little higher than 
that at the cross-roads and about three fourths of a 
mile distant. His guns were planted near the Baldwyn 
road, trained to reach the cross-roads and the Guntown 
road. These lines were advanced as the battle pro- 
gressed; but as it would not have been possible to 
move artillery through the blackjack, both armies were 



240 STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

limited to the vicinity of the roads in the use of their 
guns. 

When Grrierson found that the rebels would not be 
driven, he ordered the whole division into position. 
Waring's brigade, dismounted, on both sides of the 
Baldwyn road, was now in front of the enemy's right 
wing. Winslow's brigade was moved over the creek 
and up to the cross-roads, except the Third Battalion 
of the Fourth Iowa, under Captain Dee, which, by 
Grierson's order, was sent back to guard the division 
train. The two other battalions and the Third Iowa 
were led six hundred yards out on the Guntown road, 
dismounted, the horses sent to the rear, and a line 
formed across the road, in a very thick growth of the 
small black oaks. The Fourth Iowa just filled the 
space between Waring's right and the Guntown road. 
The Third Iowa came next on the right, its left resting 
on the Guntown road. The detachments of the Tenth 
Missouri and the Seventh Illinois were posted together 
on the east of the Pontotoc road, to hold that approach. 
The whole line was, roughly, the segment of a circle, 
the middle being on the Guntown road, the left refused, 
and the right resting upon the Pontotoc road. This 
brought the Third and Fourth Iowa apparently in 
front of Forrest's centre, but the opposing lines were 
at all points concealed from each other by the dense 
blackjack. Not only all the men, but all the officers 
except Winslow and Noble, were dismounted. Sabres 
and spurs had been left with the horses, which were 
held in mass in the field east of the creek. It was now 
twelve o'clock. 

The four guns of Winslow's brigade were left at 
the cross-roads, to be in position to defend either 
approach, Captains Joyce and Lee being ordered to re- 



THE BATTLE OF B RICE'S CROSS-ROADS. 241 

port dii'ect to Grierson and await furthej' orders. This 

was, of course, doue with Grierson's knowledge and 

approval. Sturgis speaks of these guns in the battle 

as if they were immediately under his own command, 

and says, as the reason why they were not at first 

employed, that it was not possible to use them because 

of the dense woods between his lines and the enemy's. 

When Waring's brigade was dismounted, Grierson 

sent a message to Sturgis, suggesting that infantry 

and artillery be ordered up; and when he ordered 

the division into position, he again sent back, urging 

that he be supported, but saying that he could hold 

his line. Sturgis ordered forward the advanced 

brigades of the infantry, with some artillery. But, so 

far from having closed up on the cavalry, as they 

should have done according to his orders given the 

day before, they were five or six miles in the rear. 

They were already half-broken from the hardships of 

the ten days' march and enervated by the great heat. 

They were now ordered to move at quick time, and 

finally at double-quick. Their fatigue, the very miry 

road, and the sultry air, made it impossible to do this 

in order. Some dropped out, in spite of the efforts of 

their officers, and the others plunged along in disorder. 

Long before they reached the battle-field they were 

exhausted and spiritless. It would not be possible 

for men, even if fresh at the start and hardened by 

experience and free from weight, to run five miles in 

that terrible heat, over that heavy road, and go into 

battle in good order or condition ; but these men were 

already in bad condition and had to carry a heavy 

weight of equipments and ammunition. It was a 

foolish order, wrong and reckless. The infantry and 
16 



242 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



trains should have been held west of the creek until 
the general was well informed as to the force and 
position of the enemy. If all the cavalry, dismounted, 
could not hold the enemy for a time, that would be 
evidence of the enemy's strength, and a sound reason 
for keeping the infantry and trains behind the creek 
until a plan of operations could be intelligently de- 
vised. If the cavalry could hold its lines, then sm'ely 
there was no need to run the infantr}^ and artillery 
five or six miles in great haste and under such exhaust- 
ing conditions. But the infantry came up, greatly 
hurried and blown, having lost a large part of their 
number by straggling and by sheer physical exhaustion, 
followed by the artillery, and that by the whole wagon 
train. Everything was rushed over the creek toward the 
enemy„ By some wild order or misunderstanding, even 
the wagon train was being run over the bridge and 
parked in the open fields near it, within reach of For- 
rest's artillery. Nothing was left undone which could 
tend to make the disaster complete. 

Meantime, in the front the " enemy was observed 
advancing in close order upon the dismounted cavalry- 
men, who were lying on the ground awaiting attack. 
At the same time they opened their batteries, but their 
fire was too high. It was intolerably hot and stifling, 
lying there in the underbrush. No water had been 
obtained since early morning, and all suffered from 
thirst. Winslow walked along the line, telling the 
officers of the situation, and directing that the fire be 
carefully withheld until the rebels could be plainly 
seen or heard in the bushes, and that then it be 
poured in rapidly. The cool-headed Major Pierce 
repeated the orders to the Fourth Iowa, and talked to 



THE BATTLE OF BRICKS CROSS-ROADS. 243 

tlie officers and men with his characteristic slowness, as 
if they were engaged in a piece of commonplace busi. 
ness. He thought that the position of the regiment 
would be better a little further forward, and he moved 
it up. Then the first assault upon the brigade was 
made. The underbrush was so thick that only occa- 
sional glimpses of the advancing enemy could be had. 
The Third and Fourth Iowa being in the centre and 
nearer the enemy than the other regiments, received at 
first the brunt of the attack. The rebels assailed with 
a determined, steady fire, and the Iowa men replied as 
stoutly. The crashing of arms in the thick woods was 
deafening. Waring's line, on the left, fell back, under 
vigorous pressure. This exposed the left of the 
Fourth Iowa, and the enemy, moving forward there, 
were fought at closer range than anywhere else on the 
line. Company C held the extreme left, and suffered 
severely. Lieutenant Dillon was desperately wounded, 
and a number of his men fell with him. Major Pierce 
moved back the left and, righting the line, maintained 
the position obstinately until the rebels were repulsed. 
But they soon returned at a charge. The Iowa men 
were ordered again to lie down, and the fire of the 
rebels did but little harm. And when they came 
near, the two regiments opened upon them so fiercely 
that they were almost immediately broken and thrown 
back. The Tenth Missouri and Seventh Illinois, on 
the extreme right, were not yet much engaged ; but 
Waring's brigade, on the left, had retired so far that 
its line was near the Baldwyn road. The enemy, en- 
couraged by the success of their attack upon Waring's 
line, charged again upon the Third and Fourth Iowa 
in the centre with increased force, and compelled both 



244 STOHY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

regiments to fall back about two hundred yards ; but 
the lines were kept intact, a stubborn resistance main- 
tained, and the rebels were soon again repulsed/ The 
two regiments held their ground and advanced a little 
to improve their position, and for some time the enemy 
made no further attempt upon that part of the line. 
They contented themselves by firing at longer range 
and keeping their artillery at work. But their guns 
were still too much elevated. 

The advanced infantry regiments now came up, 
under Colonel McMillen, and the first brigade that 
arrived (Hoge's) was sent to relieve Waring's brigade 
of the cavalry. Colonel McMillen rode up to the front 
on the Guntown road, and said to Winslow that he 
had relieved Waring's brigade ; that soon more infan- 
try would be up, who would relieve his (Winslow's) 
brigade; that it was Sturgis' purpose to form the 
cavalry in the rear of the infantry ; and that he (Wins- 
low) was ordered by Sturgis to retire and remount. 
The fighting described began at about twelve o'clock. 
At about two o'clock the infantry appeared and occu- 
pied the ground under the immediate direction of 
Colonel McMillen, and the Iowa cavalry began to 
retire. While the movement was in progress the rebels 
again advanced to the attack. Winslow thereupon 
ordered the brigade back into position, taking a line 
close in the rear of the infantry, telling McMillen that 
the cavalry would not leave at such a time. McMillen 
approved of this step ; and at the same time Winslow 
sent a message direct to General Sturgis (Grierson 
having retired with Waring), to report the situation 

' These troops were chiefly the brigades of Bell and Rucker in Buford's 
division. Jordan's " Campaigns of Forrest," pp. 470-71. 



THE BA TTLE OF BRICK'S CROSS-ROADS, 245 

and ask for further orders. The messenger (Sergeant 
John Porter, of D, Fourth Iowa) returned with an ex- 
plicit order from Sturgis, that the cavalry fall back 
and mount. McMillen heard the messenger's report, 
and said that of course the brigade must return. The 
Third and Fourth Iowa moved out into the road, and 
marched in good order half a mile toward the creek, to 
the field where their horses were held. Winslow gal- 
loped ahead, with his staff, to get more detailed in- 
structions. He found Sturgis and Grierson together, 
at the roadside west of Brice's house, and reported for 
orders. Sturgis said to him that he meant to use the 
cavalry on the flanks, mounted, and directed that the 
Tenth Missouri and Seventh Illinois be left where they 
were (on the Pontotoc road), with orders to report to 
the nearest commanding officer, while Grierson ordered 
that the Third and Fourth Iowa be moved to the west 
side of the creek, and formed in the field in which 
they were placed at the beginning of the fighting. 
Grierson himself accompanied this latter movement, 
riding at the head of the column. 

Meantime the noise of the battle was much increased, 
and the report came back that the infantry were driv- 
ing the enemy. Sturgis himself said so, in the inter- 
view just mentioned. It seemed natural and reasonable, 
and the cavalrymen supposed that the battle was 
practically won. They had done their work in reach- 
ing and holding the position, and now the infantry 
was doing its part. How vastly different the situation 
really was from that supposed ! The real situation 
was, that the enemy had advanced in force along his 
whole line, and had driven back our infantry ; that he 
had successfully pushed his right wing beyond our 



246 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



left ; and that lie was now almost sure of victory. The 
General could not or would not realize what was hap- 
pening to him. Colonel McMillen was gallantly hold- 
ing the centre with one brigade, but was acting accord- 
ing to his own judgment. He again and again sent to 
Sturgis for orders and for reinforcements, but Sturgis 
only said that he could give him no assistance ; and at 
last he said that McMillen must do the best he could 
until a line should be formed to protect a retreat. 
Colonel Hoge, on the left, was outflanked and fell back 
in disorder. The small body of cavalry on the right, 
the detachments of the Tenth Missouri and Seventh 
Illinois from Winslow's brigade, had come under 
McMillen's orders, as directed, and rendered him valu- 
able aid, "fighting with distinguished bravery to the 
very last," as he reports. The last brigade, the Colored 
troops, had not come up. It was in the rear of the 
wagon-train. General Sturgis thought it proper to go 
back himself after this brigade. While he was on this 
errand the last straw was laid upon the unhappy 
infantry. Their lines were broken at several points, 
thev were thrown into confusion, those who were not 
taken bravely fighting to the last, fell back in disorder 
toward the bridge. The whole field was lost and the 
whole army in danger of capture. Sturgis got the 
Colored brigade up in time to enable a part of it 
to take a share in the fighting just before the final 
rout. But with it appeared all the impedimenta of 
the army. This at least might have been prevented. 
Pack-animals, wagons, ambulances, the sick, servants, 
all of those necessary evils which clog an army, came 
dragging and straggling along in front of the guard. 
They ought not to have gone over the bridge, but 



THE BATTLE OF £ RICE'S CROSS-ROADS. 247 

apparently nobody directed or managed them, and prob- 
ably they went along merely because they were not 
stopped. They moved right on, over the bridge — a 
fatal bridge to many of them it was — and almost into 
the battle-field. Indeed the enemy's shells soon fell 
in the wagon-park, causing great consternation among 
the drivers and camp retainers. And all this was 
done almost, if not actually, under the eyes of Stur- 
gis, when our infantry was being driven at the front 
and when anybody could see that it would be impossi- 
ble to get any wheels back over the bridge in any haste. 

The broken troops on the Guntown road now began 
to appear west of the cross-roads, with the enemy 
pressing after them. The whole field was in a panic. 
All were disheartened, pride disappeared, and all 
hurried toward the bridge. Men, horses, wagons, am- 
bulances, guns, and caissons, all in confusion ; except 
a part of each of the two infantry brigades of AVilkin 
and Hoge, which still held together. 

But before any of this occurred, the movement of 
AVinslow's brigade back across the creek was begun. 
The Third Iowa was at the head of the column. The 
road was then filled with a mixed throng still going 
toward the front, — soldiers singly and in squads, strag- 
glers, camp-followers, servants, — all hurrying over the 
bridge and toward the cross-roads. It was the usual 
scene in the rear of an engaged army. This disorder 
delayed the Third Iowa in re-crossing the bridge, and 
Major Pierce, seeing that the Fourth would have to 
wait some time for a clear road, kept it standing in the 
field where it had just been remounted. 

The Third Iowa had passed the bridge, and was 
moving into the position designated by General 



248 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



Grierson, when the Fourth Iowa, still sitting on 
their horses where they had remounted, saw the 
battle approaching again in their front. The enemy 
had gained and crossed the Baldwyn road, and 
was driving our infantry toward the creek and the 
bridge. 

It was plain that the infantry had been defeated and 
broken. Some of the enemy's guns at this time were 
evidently our own guns turned upon us. The fire 
from one of these guns ranged just over the heads of 
the Fourth Iowa. Terrible confusion now prevailed 
at the bridge, which was blocked by the flying troops, 
and by vehicles stuck upon it. The enemy would 
soon capture everything east of the creek. Major 
Pierce had no orders, except the one to follow the 
Third Iowa westward over the bridge. That he would 
not do under the present circumstances, and could not 
do if he would. There was no one to give orders, and 
he took the responsibility of acting upon his own 
judgment He dismounted the whole regiment, sent 
the horses to the creek, with orders to get them over 
by some means or other, and then, afoot at the head of 
the men, he advanced and occupied the low hill or 
mound just north of the road, already mentioned. He 
says he never knew an order to be executed so quickly. 
This position was on the left of a small line still held 
by the brave remnant of an infantry brigade, who, 
under the faithful McMillen, were struggling desper- 
ately against the tide. From this hill the Fourth Iowa 
opened lire upon the advancing rebels at short range, 
and promptly checked them ; and for half an hour it 
held them at that point. Colonel McMillen, in his 
report, speaks gratefully of this service as being very 



THE BATTLE OF B RICE'S CROSS-ROADS. 249 

valuable and gallant, though, unfortunately, he mis- 
takes the name of the regiment that did it. Colonel 
Wilkin, Ninth Minnesota, a brigade commander, also 
speaks in high praise of this performance of the regi- 
ment, and of its value, though he only knew the 
troops as " a body of dismounted cavalry." 

Meantime the bridge was cleared, and all of the 
infantry not already lost crossed over, as well as the 
Tenth Missouri and Seventh Illinois detachments of 
Winslow's brigade, and some of the wagons. The four 
guns of Winslow's brigade had already been brought 
off. When all the field appeared clear, and its horses 
were across the creek, the Fourth Iowa fell back 
steadily, without haste, and passed the creek the last 
regiment of all. The whole of the army remaining 
was now on the road west of the Tishomingo, moving 
toward Ripley, all in great disorder, except the cavalry 
and remnai^ts of the infantry brigades. 

While Winslow was directing the formation of the 
Third Iowa in the field west of the creek, as ordered, 
supposing the Fourth to be immediately following, 
Orierson came up and said that the army was beaten 
and all in retreat. Shell began to fly over the posi- 
tion, from guns taken by the enemy. Then Sturgis 
passed by with his staff near the Third Iowa and the 
cavalry commanders, but paying no attention to them 
and leaving no orders. Then Grierson went forward 
without leaving any special orders for the brigade, and 
Winslow could only put it into position to follow the re- 
treating army, which it did in close column, the Fourth 
Iowa in front. After two or three miles, it being ob- 
served that the rebels were pressing in pursuit, the 
brigade was faced about, formed squadron front, so that 



250 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

it could more easily be put into action, the intention 
being to fight ; but presently it appeared that the risk 
was too great, as failure would be likely to result 
in the loss, not only of the brigade, but of the re- 
mainder of the army. The column was accordingly 
again reversed, and moved forward slowly, Winslow 
himself galloping ahead to report to Sturgis and ask 
for orders. The road was seen to be filled with troops 
and teams utterly demoralized. Organization and 
order were almost wholly gone. The Second Cavalry- 
Brigade appeared to be the only organized body of any 
size in the army. Waring's brigade, as was afterwards 
learned, had been sent forward to Ripley, and was at- 
that time far in front. About three miles west of the 
Tishomingo, McMillen, with Wilkin, Hoge, and Bouton, 
formed a new line of the remnants of their brigades 
which still held together, in the hope of ^^reventing 
any further loss. Sturgis says there were twelve or 
fifteen hundred men in this line, but that they soon 
gave way, and that it was impossible to exercise any 
further control. This line could not have given way 
under any immediate pressure from the enemy, because 
Winslow's brigade was between it and the Tishomingo, 
and still maintained perfect order. It is probable that 
the cause was the terrible spectacle of their routed and 
demoralized comrades moviua: in confusion along- the 
road. The sight of a disorderly retreat causes fear 
even in good soldiers. And the spectacle then on that 
road within a few miles west of the creek is beyond 
any description. The road was filled from side to side 
with wagons, ambulances, guns and caissons, infantry, 
afoot and mounted, negroes of both sexes and all ages, 
all in utter disorder, all struggling to get to the head. 



THE BATTLE OF £ RICE'S CROSS-ROADS. 251 

The road had been very bad when the columns were 
moving in the opposite direction a few hours earlier, 
but now it was far worse. It had been beaten into 
the deepest mud, and the big army wagons, stuck fast 
and abandoned here and there, blocked the way and 
added to the confusion. The screaming of shot and 
shell flying over or toward the rear of these fugitives 
increased their terror ; and only the coming on of night 
saved them from destruction or capture. 

When Sturgis was overtaken by Winslow, his staff 
and cavalry escort were in good order, but immediately 
in his front and rear was seen the same dreadful con- 
dition of the army. In the conversation which ensued 
Sturgis remarked, with an injured and disheartened 
tone, that his army was only a mob of volunteers, 
worthless in action, becoming demoralized and useless 
without cause. Winslow reminded him that the cav- 
alry was intact, and Sturgis said he was glad to see 
that there was still an organized force in his army. On 
hearing that his brigade was unbroken and all in 
hand, he asked Winslow whether he could forge ahead 
of the retreating troops and stop them until they could 
be reorganized and re-formed. Winslow replied that 
he could, that he thought he could pass all the infantry 
by the time the first of them reached Stubbs', five 
miles further, and asked if that place would do. At 
Stubbs' the Corinth road comes in from the northeast, 
and the enemy might try to cut off the retreat there. 
It was also just west of the Hatchie Swamp through 
which Forrest would be compelled to move his men. by 
a narrow road, the place of his emergence being there- 
fore very favorable for fighting him. Sturgis said the 
place would do admirably, and at once ordered Winslow 



25 2 STOR Y OF A CA VALR V REGIMENT. 

to go there, stop every man and animal, and hold them 
until he should come up. 

Winslow then returned to the rear and moved the 
brigade forward as fast as possible, through the woods 
but parallel with and near the road. When Stubbs' 
plantation was reached, the brigade was ahead of the 
flying army. The Fourth Iowa was at once thrown 
across the Corinth road, well out, and the Third placed 
behind it, at the junction, in column. By this dispo- 
sition all movement was stopped, and at the same time 
the Corinth road was held on the left. But when 
General Sturgis came up he made no attempt to re- 
organize. Winslow reported his action ; the General 
only replied that " the whole thing had gone to hell, " 
that he did not expect to save any artillery or wagons ; 
and he directed Winslow to open the road, let the 
broken troops pass by, and to exhort them to hurry 
along. He said, however, that he intended to reorgan- 
ize at Ripley, and make a stand there. Ripley was 
fourteen miles further on, and it was now dark. He 
also said that he had sent Waring's brigade of the 
cavalry on to Ripley. Sturgis then asked Winslow 
whether he would undertake to cover the retreat. He 
said he knew it would be a hard task and full of 
danger and responsibility. Winslow replied that his 
brigade was only waiting for orders, and that it would 
do the best possible; but he urged again that the 
army should make a stand at once, and pointed out 
that it would be much more difficult to take a position 
at Ripley, because there the troops would be more 
scattered and unfit than ever ; that those who might 
get so far in the retreat would certainly be exhausted ; 
that they were likely to be without provisions and 



THE BATTLE OF BRICKS CROSS-ROADS. 253 

perhaps without ammunition or artilleiy, since it might 
be impossible to get the wagons and guns through the 
Hatchie Swamp, even if they should escape capture in 
the pursuit. But Sturgis said he had directed Waring 
to hold Ripley, and that he would go on ; and he 
ordered Winslow to make every effort to get the artil- 
lery and wagons through the swamp, and to cut down, 
and abandon all that could not be saved. Some 
further talk was ended by the General repeating these 
orders positively. The cavalry then opened the road, 
and General Sturgis and a large number of officers 
with him rode off toward Ripley, followed by the dis- 
ordered infantry and the mob of stragglers on foot. It 
was most pitiful, but exasperating, that ignoble spec- 
tacle, and the hearts of the men who still held together 
were filled with wrath. Many swore fiercely, and 
many cried with bitterness, to see the General thus 
weakly throw away the last chance of the day, perhaps 
the only chance to save the remainder of the army. 
But it was evident that this one brigade was to be, not 
only the rear-guard, but the only guard of the army, at 
least until Ripley was reached. It was a hard task, 
coming at the end of the exhausting efforts of the day 
and at the end of ten days of unusual strain. 

The brigade was now dismounted and disposed near 
the place where this occurred, and the men told to get 
what rest they could. The officers were directed, some 
to obtain more ammunition for the carbines and re- 
volvers, some to watch the road, and others to attend 
to the work of pulling the wagons and artillery through 
the Hatchie Swamp. This last was found to be almost 
impracticable. The road was nearly impassable there 
for wheels, even by daylight, but in the darkness there 



254 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

was, practically, no road, and the already exhausted 
animals and men were quite unequal to the task. The 
passage was in many places blocked with teams hope- 
lessly stuck fast. Only a few succeeded in getting 
through. The others were destroyed or broken down 
as much as possible. With persistent energy three of 
the guns of Winslow's brigade were dragged through. 
Two of those guns were never to be lost while the 
brave and tireless Captain Joyce commanded them. 
Captain Lee brought through one of his guns, but the 
other was lost in the mire. These three guns, with the 
Tenth Missouri and Seventh Illinois detachments of 
the brigade, whose horses were now mostly broken oi" 
exhausted (having only the day before come in from 
the long and laborious march to Rienzi, under Colonel 
Karge), were now sent on ahead to Ripley. When 
they reached Ripley they were ordered by General 
Sturgis to push on to Memphis. But Captain Lee lost 
his second gun at Ripley. The horses on it entirely 
broke down there, and he could not replace them ; so 
that he had to abandon his last gun. 

Meantime the remaining cavalrymen lighted many 
fires across the line of march, hoping to deceive the 
enemy into the belief that a large force was encamped 
there. But the intense darkness of the night would 
probably alone have saved the retreating army from 
attack. There was but little rest for the cavalrymen, 
because of the many details for different services, the 
constant passing of parties of the retreating troops and 
the natural excitement of the occasion. At about two 
o'clock in the morning the road was clear and no more 
men were found in the swamp. All who had so far 
escaped appeared to be now safely in front, on the way 



THE BATTLE OF BRICKS CROSS-ROADS. 255 

to Ripley. Half an liour later the brigade was 
mounted and marched on the E,ipley road, the Third 
Iowa in front and the Fourth in rear. The movement 
was made slowly, in column of fours. At daybreak 
the rear-guard was surprised to find that they were fol- 
lowed by a body of Union infantry. It proved to be 
a small part of Colonel Wilkin's brigade, led by the 
Colonel, who had re-formed and had stopped to rest 
for the night on the east of the swamp, probably in 
the very presence of Forrest's cavalry. This incident 
shows, as indeed do many others, that, if it was a lack 
of courage and spirit that caused Sturgis' failure, the 
lack was not wholly that of his troops. The brigade 
halted to let Wilkin's men pass and get well ahead. 
Shortly after it was again in motion rebel cavalry ap- 
peared and made a dash upon the rear. They had 
only been waiting for light enough to enable them to 
-attack. General Grierson and his staff, who had spent 
the night at a house on the road, now appeared there 
and took the head of the brigade column. Upon 
consultation Grierson and Winslow agreed that it was 
not probable that there was any organized part of the 
army at Ripley, and that it would be prudent for 
Grierson to move on with one regiment, to occupy the 
town and prepare for defense there. The Third Iowa 
being in front, then rode ahead with Grierson, while 
the Fourth was to hold the enemy back and move 
slowly. Winslow remained with the Fourth. Both 
regiments had taken care during the night to lay in a 
full supply of cartridges. 

It was an exceedingly hard day that thus fell to the 
lot of the Third and Fourth Iowa, even harder than 
the day before ; and the service seemed comparatively 



256 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

thankless, since the results were not so conspicuous as 
those they had achieved at Brice's Cross-roads. From 
daylight till nearly dark, with but short intervals, one 
or the other of them was, or they both were, in harass- 
ing conflict with the exultant and bold rebel cavalry. 
Fondest pursued closely, with all of his cavalry, confi- 
dent of capturing at least the retreating footmen. He 
pushed the rear with great daring and persistence, im- 
patient to reach his expected captives in front. His 
advanced companies frequently charged upon the rear 
with wild yelling; and he lost many men, not only 
when these assaults were repulsed, but through the 
hardihood of some of his men, who, reckless in the joy 
of victory, unnecessarily exposed themselves in coming 
too near. The Fourth Iowa maintained a formation by 
companies in echelon, the rear company always in line 
facing the enemy. The companies alternating in this 
service, there was always a line standing against assault 
and ready with its volleys, like a wild beast at bay 
showing his teeth. There were stretches of the road 
where the shape of the ground "prevented the rebels 
from making these attacks, but the other parts of the 
ten miles march to Ripley were almost continuously 
ringing with the " rebel yell " and the answering crack 
of the Iowa carbines. The enemy were of course, com- 
paratively, in good condition. They had won a strik- 
ing victory, and were greatly elated. They knew that 
Sturgis had lost a large part of his army, nearly all his 
artillery, and all of his wagons and supplies. They 
had, indeed, good occasion for high spirits and high 
hopes. 

The men and horses of Winslow's brigade had al- 
ready been twenty-four hours without food and almost 



THE BATTLE OF B RICE'S CROSS-ROADS. 257 

continuously active, not to speak of the condition they 
were in at the beginning of that period. And its num- 
ber was very small when compared with the number 
of the army it was defending or with that of the 
enemy it was resisting. But the men knew that the 
fate of the five thousand in their front, as well as their 
own lives or liberty, depended upon their keeping up 
the struggle. Though some of them fell under the 
rebel fire, the others were only the more bitter and de- 
termined for that; and they had the satisfaction of 
seeing at least as many of their assailants fall. 

As the regiment approached Ripley, Forrest's men 
became still more truculent, and appeared in increased 
mimbers. They pushed forward on the flanks, now on 
one and then on the other, attacking there as well as 
in the rear. It seemed impossible to hold out much 
longer. Winslow sent one of his staff at high speed 
into the town, to learn the situation there, communicate 
with Grierson and the Third Iowa, and see what sup- 
port the Fourth could have. The regiment was then 
passing Llewellyn Church, in a ravine just east of the 
town, and the firing was very hot in the rear. Look- 
ing ahead, a body of rebels was seen huriying from the 
south (the Tupelo road) along the ridge which formed 
the western side of the ravine. The purpose was, 
plainly, to cut off the brigade. Winslow ordered a 
demonstration by the rear companies, as if to charge 
the enemy nearest to them, and then abruptly with- 
drew the rear guard and galloped the column into the 
town. It was just in time. 

It was about ten o'clock in the morning. General 
Sturgis had not made a stand at Ripley, as he had pro- 
posed. He was already gone some hours. He says, in 
17 



258 STOjR Y of a CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

his report/ that he did effect an organization there by 
seven o'clock, so that "the army presented quite a 
respectable appearance " ; but then he discovered that 
the cartridge-boxes were nearly exhausted, and the 
organization broke down again. The whole body set 
off promptly toward Salem, Waring's brigade of cav- 
alry being again sent ahead. The General had left a 
few hundred Colored infantry in Ripley, under Colonel 
Bouton, who was ordered to report to Winslow. The 
staff-officer who had been sent ahead from Llewellyn 
Church now came up and reported that Grierson was 
with the Third Iowa on the Salem road in the west 
part of the town, moving north, and that Sturgis had 
directed Grierson that the rear-guard must hold Ripley 
as long as possible. It seemed as if General Sturgis 
was utterly indifferent, not merely to the hardships, 
but to the existence of the brigade. 

The rebels were already pushing into the streets 
from the east, yelling like devils. Winslow at once 
ordered Bouton to form his Colored troops behind 
a line of fences, to open on the enemy and hold the 
position stubbornly. At the same time he went to 
the Third Iowa, countermarched it at a gallop, and 
charged a part of it, in column of fours, down the road 
on the right of the Colored line and into the rebel front. 
The gallant Lieutenant-Colonel Jones rode at the head 
of the column, and the rebels were forced back in con- 
fusion. It was a sharp conflict, and the Third Iowa 
suffered severely, but the movement delayed the enemy 
for a time, and was, perhaps, the salvation of the 
Colored troops. Their colonel now reported that he 
had but three or four rounds of cartridges left, and 

' Official report, ii Moore's Rebellion Record, p. 162. 



THE BATTLE OF B RICE'S CROSS-ROADS. 259 

Winslow gave him leave to retire, witli tlie advice to 
follow the other infantry to Salem with all speed. 

Meantime Major Pierce had formed the Fourth Iowa 
across the town, on one of the streets to the left of the 
position of the Colored troops, and was having a hot 
battle with another part of the rebel force. The whole 
regiment was engaged, and the weight of the enemy- 
appeared to be increasing. At the same time two 
other bodies of them were seen, one moving upon the 
south side of the town, and the other working around 
to the north of it.^ The game seemed almost played 
for the exhausted Iowa men. No wonder they showed 
signs of weakening. The strain upon them had been 
tremendous, and to their eyes there was but little 
encouragement. A heavy and determined charge upon 
the regiment now succeeded so far as to force it back 
all along the line. The rebels pressed their advantage, 
and produced some disorder, the principal result being 
that the regiment was separated into two parts of six 
companies each. But the disorder was overcome, and 
all fell back to the northwest part of the town. There 
was nothing to be done but to leave the town while it 
was yet possible. The six companies from the right of 
the Fourth Iowa moved westward on the road to Salem, 
which the infantry had taken. The Third Iowa com- 
panies which had made the charge returned and took 
the same road, marching in rear. The other six com- 
panies of the Fourth attempted to reach the same road, 
but, finding the enemy in possession of it, they took 
the road toward Saulsbury, east of the Salem road. 
These latter companies did not join again until noon 

' It was Forrest in person, with his escort and Bell's brigade, who made this 
attack in front, and Buford's brigades attempted the flanking. Jordan's " Cam- 
paigns of Forrest," p. 478. 



26o STOJiY OF A CAVALJiY REGIMENT. 

tlie next day. Captain Woods, of L, took command of 
them, and marcted them north a few miles and then 
west to Colliersville. It was supposed they would be 
taken or destroyed, almost as of course ; but they had 
no trouble at all, not even seeing any force of the 
enemy after leaving Kipley. 

But Forrest made up for his failure to follow on the 
Saulsbury road by his energy on the Salem road. His 
advanced companies were, if possible, more active than 
ever; and, our men having shown some weakness, it 
was a time of great anxiety. The rebels rode immedi- 
ately through the town, and kept dashing upon the 
rear-guard. This was now the Third Iowa. It held 
its post gallantly, fighting by companies, in echelon, as 
the Fourth had done. The Fourth, in front, began to 
move too fast, and, naturally, the first companies of the 
Third were tempted to follow at the same pace. There 
was great danger. That pace, if continued, would be- 
come a flight. At the request of Winslow, who was at 
the rear with the Third, Grierson rode to the front of 
the Fourth, placed himself and his staff-officers at the 
head of the column, and compelled the men to come 
to a slow walk. Steadiness and good order were then 
quickly restored, and the desperate conflict went on. 

Two or three miles from Ripley, being alarmed by 
the effect upon the men of the prolonged excitement 
and physical exertion, Winslow and Pierce made a new 
effort to check the rebels. Two companies of the 
Fourth, D and G, under Captain Abraham, I) being 
commanded by Lieutenant Pickel and G by Lieu- 
tenant Sloan Keck, with two companies of the Third 
Iowa, were posted in the woods at the side of the road, 
with orders to keep well together, to fire only at close 



THE BATTLE OF B RICE'S CROSS-ROADS. 261 

range, carefully and effectively, and, under any circum- 
stances, to hold the position and check the enemy. 
The officers were told that it was a position of danger, 
but that it must be held to the last moment. The 
work could not have been entrusted to better hands. 
Both officers and men most bravely did their duty. 
Nothing was done better in all the campaign. This 
handful of men actually kept the whole rebel column 
at bay for some time, and compelled the formation of 
new lines of attack. The good results were, that the 
remainder of the brigade had a breathing-time and 
that all the troops in front got well ahead. The 
enemy at last having nearly surrounded this stubborn 
little body, it retired and closed up on the column. 
On the next attack the rear companies followed the 
example so well set them, and held their ground longer 
than had been the practice, and fired more steadily. 
It was an improvement, giving more confidence and 
coolness to the men not engaged, and enabling the 
alternating companies to take position at a slower 
pace. But the terrible tax was fast reaching the limit 
of human endurance. Indeed, it was necessary, from 
time to time, to relieve some of the men and send 
them ahead, who otherwise would have been lost. 
The men and horses still able to stand were reduced 
to a pitiful number. The companies now averaged 
hardly fifteen or twenty men each in line, and the 
men had been without food since the morning of the 
day before. The horses had not only been without 
food during the same time, but had not been fed regu- 
larly nor sufficiently for four or five days. And the 
kind of work required of the horses during this last 
•day was the hardest upon horses of all that they do. 



262 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

About five miles west of E-ipley the road crossed a 
small creek witli steep banks, spanned by a narrow 
bridge. The bridge was not passable for cavalry, as 
much of the planking was broken or gone. With a 
good deal of trouble and delay the two cavalry regi- 
ments forded the creek at two places. All the time 
the rear companies were kept briskly engaged. On 
the hill west of this creek the head of the cavalry 
column came in view of the rear of the retreating in- 
fantry for the first time that day. 

Scattered about the bridge and the banks of the 
creek were many infantrymen, sitting and lying down, 
apparently utterly exhausted. They had stopped 
there for water or to rest, but they were now so 
worn out and so dull and hopeless in mind that they 
could not be moved. The cavalrymen tried to get 
them to go on, but nothing could stir them. Appeals, 
warnings, threats, were of no avail. They were told 
that the rebels would soon be there, and they could 
hear the firing, but their apathy was not overcome by 
any effort to scare them. It was a pitiful spectacle of 
broken spirits. They were no doubt all prisoners 
within a short time. 

But this was not the only instance of the capture of 
the broken infantry in that terrible retreat. Many 
hundreds were lost after their escape from the battle- 
field. They had had little or nothing to eat since the 
morning of the day before, nor any sleep, and their 
physical powers had been taxed beyond endurance. 
Singly and in squads they fell or lay by the roadside 
or in the woods, all strength and spirit gone, wholly 
refusing to move. Fear of death or desire to live had 
no longer any influence. They were stupidly indiffer- 



THE BATTLE OF B RICE'S CROSS-ROADS. 263 

ent to fate. The spirit of the average man in war — 
the " soul," as old writers call it — depends upon his 
stomach and his muscle ; it has not an independent 
existence. 

The passage of the small creek was made by the 
brigade at about two o'clock. There Forrest must 
have given up hope of success, and probably he there 
halted the main part of his forces, because after the 
creek was crossed the attacks were light and infre- 
quent. The reason for this respite was, probably, that 
his men and horses had become jaded. His horses had, 
indeed, on that day done even more than those on the 
other side, as they were almost continuously hurrying 
back and forth and making circuits over rough country 
on the flanks of the Iowa men.^ 

General Sturgis had been kept informed, by officers 
of the staff and others, of the situation and operations 
in the rear. He continued to move as rapidly as was 
possible, going through Salem and on toward Colliers- 
ville. The wretched survivors of his disaster dragged 
themselves along with him, still in confusion and fear, 
in a most pitiful condition from their toils and hunger 
and defeat. They had no food, and the country was 
utterly destitute of food ; and the heat was still very 
oppressive. More and more of them dropped out and 
fell, doggedly awaiting their fate, preferring any suffer- 
ing to that they were then enduring. 

At last, late in the afternoon, the General sent re- 
lief to the faithful Iowa cavalry in the rear. Waring's 

' It appears that Forrest followed as far as Salem, where he arrived at five 
o'clock ; that there he was led to believe that only stragglers were on that road, 
and that Sturgis' main body was on the Lagrange road ; that thereupon he 
ceased the pursuit himself, but ordered it continued on the Lagrange road by 
Buford and Bell ; and that shortly afterward he recalled all pursuit. Jordan's 
" Campaigns of Forrest," p. 480. 



264 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



brigade had been up to this time marching quietly in 
front of all. It had not been engaged with the enemy 
since it was relieved by McMillen on the field at Brice's 
early in the action of the day before. Only one regi- 
ment was sent back, however, the Second New Jersey, 
under Colonel Karge, the only regiment in the whole 
command then aimed with the new Spencer carbine. 
Any troops having that gun ought to have been placed 
in the rear long before. The defense would certainly 
have been easier, safer, and more effective. The 
Spencer was an excellent " magazine " gun, carrying 
seven metallic cartridges, while the two Iowa regi- 
ments had Sharp's and Union carbines, which took 
paper cartridges one at a time. 

The relief was timely. The Iowa men were nearly 
out of cartridges, some having none left and others but 
two or three. But at that time the enemy had not 
appeared in any numbers for an hour, and there was 
nothing very hard for the relieving regiment to do, 
especially as darkness would soon prevent any fighting. 
And, in fact, the rebels did not make any serious attack 
after Salem was passed. 

The exhausted remnant of the Third and Fourth 
Iowa, their organization still intact and their column 
in good order, now at last found themselves riding 
quietly in column along the road. Though they were 
relieved from rear-guard duty, they kept behind the 
flying infantry and just in front of the Second New 
Jersey. It seemed to them that the troops might as 
well stop and rest for the night, but the front kept 
pushing on. Sturgis had determined to go on to 
Colliersville, sixty-two miles from Ripley, and there 
halt for rest aod for supplies from Memphis. 



THE BATTLE OF B RICE'S CROSS-ROADS. 265 

All night long tlie marcli went on, but it was im- 
possible to move at any but a slow rate. The men 
were, of course, extremely weary and drowsy. It was 
most difficult to keep awake, and many slept in snatches 
as their horses stumbled along. The torturing hours 
of the night dragged slowly by. At eight o'clock in 
the morning (Sunday, the 12th) the column reached 
Colliersville, and at last halted. The railway was in 
operation from there to Memphis, twenty-four miles, 
and by noon a train came out with supplies and two 
thousand fresh troops. At about the same time the 
six companies of the Fourth Iowa, under Captain 
Woods, who had been cut off at Ripley and had 
marched in company with Colonel Wilkin's infantry, 
came in from the east, to the great Joy of their com- 
rades of the other companies, who had feared they 
were lost. For the first time in over two days and 
nights the poor horses were stripped of their saddles 
and permitted to rest ; and their suffering riders threw 
themselves on the ground, relieved at last from the 
tremendous strain they had borne. And both horses 
and men had the novel and sweet experience of eating 
again freely and in quiet. 

Within easy reach of Memphis, with the railway 
and telegraph in operation, with plenty of supplies on 
hand, with the two brigades of cavalry still intact and 
two thousand fresh troops received, and the enemy not 
having been heard from since the evening before, it 
would seem only a reasonable comfort to the jaded 
men and animals that they should be permitted to rest 
at Colliersville over night. But Sturgis feared that a 
large force of rebels was moving upon White's Station, 
seventeen miles ahead, to cut him off. White's was 



266 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

only seven miles from Memphis by rail, and had a 
garrison which could easily be strengthened from 
Memphis, not to speak of the impossibility, under the 
circumstances, that any large force of rebels could 
reach the place in time and in condition to fight. 

Soon after dark, when the soldiers, no longer starved, 
were lying down to sleep, they were ordered out, to 
continue the retreat. The sick and feeble had been 
sent on by rail, and now the remainder of the infantry 
and the dismounted cavalry were put on cars. All the 
men with horses had to march. The night was dark 
and the march very slow, any speed being physically 
impossible. It took till nearly daybreak to make the 
seventeen miles to White's. 

Any cavalryman of experience will understand what 
suifering, what physical pain, that last unnecessaiy 
march caused the wretched men and horses who made 
it. When a forced march has been continued a day or 
two, a cavalryman suffers a slowly increasing pain, 
from his cramped position and the unceasing motion 
of his horse, a pain that is often very hard to bear hour 
after hour. It is an indescribable general keen ache 
and rasping of the nerves ; but it can be borne through 
an incredible length of time, because there is a gradual 
preparation for it. A man can bear a great many 
pounds of weight if they are laid on slowly, one at a 
time. But when the rider is at last relieved from the 
strain and permitted to rest and become wholly re- 
laxed, and is then, before his rest has reached the point 
of comfort, compelled to mount and ride again, his 
sensations are exquisite tortures. Every bone aches 
fiercely and seems ready to crack with pain, and every 
muscle feels as sore and tender as if it had been sepa- 



THE BATTLE OF BRICE'S CROSS-ROADS. 267 

rately scourged. No experience in that terrible cam- 
paign is recalled by tlie cavalry witli a keener memory 
of suffering than the dreadful march of that night. 

White's Station was reached early on the 13th. 
There was not the least news of the enemy. The 
remnants of the infantry had gone on to Memphis by 
rail, but the cavalry was not yet permitted to move to 
its camps. It had been hardly an hour at White's 
when Colonel Winslow received an order to send all 
the men whose horses were still capable back to 
Colliersville, to protect a railway train which was being 
sent to bring up some more infantry who had come in 
there. There were hardly one hundred horses in the 
Fourth Iowa that could go, but all that could were 
turned out, under Captain Huff, of Company A, and 
again went twice over that wearisome road. The re- 
mainder of the brigade went on to Memphis, reaching 
camp there the evening of the 13th. The detachment 
sent back to Colliersville remained there, holding the 
roads beyond the town, until the last of the infantry 
were on cars moving to Memphis ; and these men did 
not join their comrades in camp at Memphis until the 
15th. 

It is one hundred and ten miles from Memphis to 
Guntown, by the route the army took ; so that, from 
Stubbs' to Brice's and thence back to White's, the 
brigade had marched one hundred and eleven miles in 
less than three days, engaged half the time in more or 
less active conflict with the enemy. The Colliersville 
detachment, in another day, added thirty-five miles to 
the distance. And these distances are given without 
counting the side marches, made in scouting and forag- 
ing, which amounted, probably, to as much more. 



268 STOR Y OF A CA VALE V REGIMENT. 

The campaign was ended. With what humiliation 
and sorrow and indignation it is recalled ! That fine 
little army almost wholly ruined. Many regiments so 
broken and diminished as to be nearly useless for the 
remainder of the war ; a third of their number killed, 
wounded, or in rebel prisons ; ^ all the guns lost except 
those of Winslow's brigade and the small howitzers of 
Waring's ; all of the great wagon-train gone, filled with 
supplies and ammunition ; the enemy victorious and 
boasting, enriched by booty, strengthened by the 
artillery and the thousands of small arms left in their 
hands, and now in possession of all the country up to 
the very picket-posts of Memphis. 

The killing and wounding of men under such cir- 
cumstances seems only a cruel slaughter ; and it was 
with deepest anger and resentment that the men of the 
Fourth Iowa now counted their lost comrades.^ And 
yet their loss was very much less than that of some of 
the infantry regiments. By their highly creditable 
maintenance of order and discipline, their holding well 
together, and stubbornly resisting all attacks, the 
cavalry lost only when loss was wholly unavoidable. 
This is always the case where steady conduct occurs. 
When troops are defeated and driven, it is always 
safer for them to fight and hold back stubbornly, like 
wheel-horses on a down-grade, than to run or break. 

There is one view of this disastrous campaign, how- 
ever, which is a source of great pride and gratification 

' Sturgis' report of losses, ii Rebellion Record, p. i66, shows 233 killed, 
394 wounded, and 1,623 missing. Forrest's loss, as stated by Jordan, in " Cam- 
paigns of Forrest," p. 481, was " at least 140 killed and nearly 500 wounded." 
It was probably much more. 

'^ The loss of the Fourtli Iowa was 9 killed, 26 wounded, and 15 captured. 
Some of the captured were known to be wounded. A very large number of 
horses was also lost, killed, wounded, or exhausted. See Appendix : " En- 
gagements and Casualties." 



THE BATTLE OF BRICE' S CROSS-ROADS. 269 

to the members of the Third and Fourth Iowa, and 
which has excited the admiration of many soldiers and 
writers : that in the midst of difficulties and discour- 
agements so great these regiments maintained their 
organization and steadily did their duty at every point ; 
that they held their post in the battle perfectly until 
they were regularly relieved ; that they brought away 
successfully their two guns, the only ones saved in the 
army except the small howitzers of Waring's brigade ; 
that throughout the retreat they successfully held the 
rear, without relief and under most discouraging and 
desperate circumstances, a service which alone saved 
the broken army from entire destruction or capture ; 
and that they did this under the greatest physical and 
mental strain, without sleep and almost without food. 
It is a record which could hardly be excelled, and 
every man in the two regiments may ever feel proud 
of it. 

It would be a further and crowning satisfaction if it 
could be written that the general commanding was 
gratified by the conduct and success of the brigade, 
and had made some mention of it with approval in his 
report. He did profess to be gratified while in the field 
and in the presence of danger. In a despatch to Wash- 
burn from the field, dated the 12th,^ he said : "My lines 
were compelled to give way before the overwhelming 
numbers by which they were assailed at every point," 
and, " So far as I know, every one did his duty well, and 
while they fought no troops ever fought better." And 
then when he was overtaken at Colliersville, after 
the fighting was all done, he was very grateful ; and 
he thanked Winslow, and, through him, the officers 
and men of the brigade, " for their invaluable service 

' War Records, vol. 39, part i, p. 218. 



270 STOR Y OF A CA VALR V REGIMENT. 

and tlie very gallant manner in which, they had acted." 
He could not then speak of them too highly. But 
afterward, in his leisure at Memphis, came the painful 
duty of making an official report, and then arose the 
need of accounting for his failure without bringing 
blame upon himself. ^ 

It is difficult to realize that, although the Fourth 
Iowa, either alone or with its brigade, was conspicu- 
ously engaged in all the fighting described in General 
Sturgis' report, it is mentioned there only once, and 
then only for the purpose of casting a slur upon its 
colonel. The remarkable and exhausting conflicts of 
the 11th, lasting nearly the whole day and maintained 
almost entirely by the two Iowa regiments, are not 
spoken of at all. But the General found it easy, in 
seeking to magnify his difficulties, to report a pure 
invention, in saying that Winslow, whose command 
"occupied a position a little in advance of the cross- 
roads, was especially clamorous to be relieved and to 
be permitted to carry his brigade to the rear." 

General Sturgis was not at the position referred to, 
nor any nearer than the Brice house, which was half a 
mile to the rear. The position of the brigade was 
directly in front of the enemy's centre, and was held 
for about three hours against three distinct and per- 
sistent assaults. Nor did the brigade retire even when 
it was relieved by infantry sent by the General for that 
purpose, but, as has been already told, it remained and 
assisted Colonel McMillen in holding the line until 
ordered back a second time by Sturgis himself. 

But, not content with this invention, the unhappy 
General adds the gratuitous insult that he "feared 

* His report, ii Rebellion Record, p. 162, and "The Other Side," a defense 
printed and circulated by Gen. Sturgis in 1882. 



THE BATTLE OF B RICE'S CROSS-ROADS. 271 

Colonel Winslow might abandon his position without 
authority," and therefore " directed him, if he should 
be overpowered, to fall back slowly toward the cross- 
roads." ^ There was not the least occasion for any such 
apprehension, as every man who was at the front can 
declare, nor did the brigade ever leave its position 
until it gave place to McMillen's infantry, which came 
up without having been asked for unless by Grierson. 

All of Winslow's communication had been with 
Grierson, and he had not sent any report or request to 
Sturgis during the action, except when he sent Sergeant 
Porter to ask for further orders, in view of the attack 
which had just then been made upon McMillen's in- 
fantry. Winslow had had no personal communication 
with Sturgis ; indeed, at that time, he had never met 
him. Grierson was his immediate superior officer, and 
his reports had been made to and his orders received 
from Grierson only. 

Colonel McMillen, who commanded all the infantry, 
and who is spoken of with great praise by General 
Sturgis, says ^ that when he came up to relieve the 
cavalry, he found Winslow with his brigade formed 
across the Guntown road, to the right of the position 
of Waring ; that the brigade was in good condition ; 
that while the infantry was taking the place of the 
cavalry the enemy made a determined attack, and that 
Winslow then refused to retire, although ordered to 
do so, but remained and formed his brigade in a new 
line in support of the infantry ; that afterward, when 
a peremptory order to withdraw was received, the 

' No such order was received, and it is difficult to believe that it v?as sent 
or even thought of at the time referred to. At that time probably no one had 
thought of being " overpowered." 

* Report of Adjt.-Genl. of Iowa for 1865, p. 133. 



272 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



cavalry brigade moved off in good order; and that 
Winslow certainly manifested no disposition to with- 
draw hastily, but, on the contrary, volunteered to re- 
main after the attack just referred to was made, until 
a second time ordered to retire. 

Colonel Noble, commanding the Third Iowa in the 
engagement, was all the time at the front with his men, 
and was much of the time personally with Winslow. No 
one can doubt Colonel Noble's gallantry, his reputation 
resting upon three years of incessant campaigning and 
many battles. He says ^ that Winslow was always at 
his post in the battle, actively on duty and encouraging 
a stout resistance ; that after the infantry relieved the 
line, he voluntarily threw the brigade into line again 
under a hot fire, and himself shared the danger ; that 
it is astonishing that he could be spoken of as " clam- 
orous for relief " ; that there was less of " clamor " about 
him than about any man he had ever seen in the field ; 
and that the General's " fear " that the position of the 
brigade might be abandoned was peculiar to the Gren- 
eral, since nobody who knew Winslow could share it. 

Major Williams, of the Tenth Missouri, then Acting 
Assistant-Adjutant-General of the brigade, was near 
General Sturgis when the dismounted men of the Third 
and Fourth Iowa were passing by on their way to 
their horses, after their line was occupied by the infan- 
try. He says ^ he heard Sturgis speak impatiently of 
the delay there had been in bringing back the cavalry, 
and that he seemed displeased because it was not al- 
ready remounted. 

All the men of the Third and Fourth Iowa who 
were there knew that they were thrown into line of 

' Report of Adj't.-Genl. of Iowa for 1865, p. 127. ^ The same, p. 130, 



THE BATTLE OF BEIGE'S CROSS-EOAE>S. 273 

battle again, under the fire of a third attack, after they 
had been relieved by the infantry ; and Sergeant Porter, 
before referred to, says ^ that when this new line was 
ordered, he was sent back by Colonel Winslow to 
General Sturgis with a report of the situation and of 
the disposition of the brigade in support of the infan- 
try, and with the statement that it would be so held 
until further orders were received ; and that General 
Sturscis at once sent him to the front with an order to 
Winslow to return his men and mount them without 
delay. 

Major Pierce, commanding the Fourth Iowa, has de- 
clared ^ that when the attack was made upon Colonel 
McMillen's infantry he met Winslow near the line the 
cavalry had Just vacated ; that Winslow said to him 
that it was very improper to withdraw the brigade 
when the enemy were pressing so hard ; and that he 
(Pierce) was then ordered to form his regiment again 
in the rear of the infantry and hold the line until fur- 
ther orders. 

Finally, General Sturgis himself says, in effect, in 
another part of his report, that it was at the request of 
General Gricrson that he authorized the withdrawal of 
the cavalry, and that his purpose in withdrawing it 
was to have it ready to operate on the flanks, mounted. 

But one falsehood and one ungenerous insinuation 
against the officers and men who saved him and his 
army are not enough, in the view of this general, to draw 
criticism away from his own failure. He is capable of 
another and yet more reckless charge, conveying an- 
other base imputation upon the courage of the brigade 
and its commander. He refers to the defeat and rout 

' The same, p. 134. ^ The same, p. 129. 



274 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



of his infantry and to the wild confusion caused among 
them and the wagons and artillery jammed in the road, 
saying : " No power could now check or control the 
panic-stricken mass, as it swept toward the rear, led off 
by Colonel Winslow at the head of his brigade of cav- 
alry, who never halted till he reached Stubbs', ten 
miles in rear." 

It is difficult to control one's indignation under this 
atrocious accusation. By the context of the General's re- 
port, it is seen that the time when this fiight occurred was 
after five o'clock, and that he (Sturgis) was then some 
distance west of the Tishomingo, The infantry lines 
were broken at about three o'clock, and at four o'clock 
there certainly were no Union troops, except prisoners, 
east of that creek. From this it is seen that the dis- 
graceful flight referred to by General Sturgis began 
three miles or more west of the creek. The report, 
with disingenuous art, seeks to make it appear that the 
panic did not occur until that place was reached. It 
must be supposed, from his reports, that he wishes it 
believed that up to that point "there was an orderly 
retreat. It is the only view to be taken if the state- 
ments in his report are true. 

Every man who was there that day must deny this. 
The panic occurred east of the creek, and the flight of 
the infantry was in full progress long before it reached 
the place to which the report must refer. The lines 
were broken at and near the cross-roads, and when the 
defeated infantiy reached the bridge it was only as a 
mob, excepting the small though faithful remnants who 
so nobly stood by McMilleu and Wilkin in their repeated 
heroic attempts to make a stand against the victorious 
enemy. General Sturgis' purpose in withdrawing the 



THE BATTLE OF B RICE'S CROSS-ROADS. 275 

cavalry from the centre, as he himself says, was to use 
it on the flanks ; and when, in his presence and with his 
assent, Grierson ordered Winslow's brigade to the west 
of the creek, to form there in the fields, as has been 
stated, there was no other thought but that it was to 
be used on the one flank or the other, as occasion might 
require. There was no expectation at that time of the 
final defeat and rout. The fighting lines in front were 
not then in sight, and none of the infantry who had 
gone forward had yet come back. Indeed, at that 
time infantry and artillery were still going forward, 
crossing the bridge and moving up to the cross-roads, 
and many wagons and ambulances were yet to cross 
the creek in the same direction. The Third Iowa was, 
in fact, delayed in recrossing the bridge, under the 
order last spoken of, by the men and teams still press- 
ing toward the front in such numbers as to fill the 
road and block the bridge. But before the bridge was 
wholly cleared of the movement forward, the panic 
struck the infantry, and the rush of men and teams 
back to the bridge was begun. Many of those yet 
moving forward simply turned in their tracks and ran 
the other way. The collision of the two streams east 
of the bridge produced the utmost confusion. The 
enemy got the range, and dropped shells there and 
among the wagons, parked on the east side of the 
creek, with such accuracy as to increase the disorder 
frightfully. It became impossible for the Fourth 
Iowa to recross the bridge, as ordered, even if Major 
Pierce or the regiment had been willing to do it in 
such an emergency; and the Tenth Missouri and 
Seventh Illinois detachments of the brigade were still 
on that side of the creek, faithfully doing their duty 



276 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

with McMillen. The regiment, ou returning to its 
horses from the line of battle in front, was mounted 
and formed, squadron front, on or very near the spot 
where it had first dismounted before noon. Here it 
was when the broken infantry appeared at the cross- 
roads, hurrying in disorder toward the bridge ; and 
here it stood, without an order from any superior 
officer, while the routed troops streamed by in almost 
total disorder, and until nearly all were past except 
the gallant few who were still fighting and falling 
back under McMillen and Wilkin. It was then so 
near the enemy that the shot and shell which struck 
about the bridge and the wagon-park flew over it 
without harm. It was then that, without any order, 
and on his own judgment. Major Pierce again dis- 
mounted the regiment and seized the low hill, as 
already described, sending the horses toward the 
bridge, to be crossed when possible. And there, al- 
most alone, the regiment held back the tide of the 
exultant rebels until the last of the infantry and its 
horses, with those of the Tenth Missouri and Seventh 
Illinois detachments, had got over the creek. Unless 
there were some stragglers and small groups of foot- 
men overlooked in the smoke and confusion and neces- 
sary haste of the movement, the Fourth Iowa was the 
last of the army to recross that fatal creek, and there- 
fore the last to leave that disastrous battle-field. 

Some civilian, not known to the writer, who says he 
was " an eye witness," in a published account of this 
battle,* says that " the Fourth Iowa, in rear of the 
Second cavalry brigade, had not yet crossed their 
horses over the crowded bridge . . . when they 

' II Moore's Rebellion Record, p. 172. 



THE BATTLE OF B RICE'S CROSS-ROADS. 277 

were dismounted and formed upon the crest of the 
hill on the eastern bank of the creek. Here, with 
their carbines, under a deadly fire of musketry and 
artillery, they fought for thirty minutes, covering the 
retiremeut of their horses and saving the fragments of 
two infantry regiments threatened with complete anni- 
hilation or capture by the victorious rebels." 

When the Fourth reached the position of the Third 
Iowa, that I'egiment was formed, waiting orders. 
There were no orders for the brigade. No attention 
had been given it, even when Sturgis went by the 
Third in position. The whole army was seen to be 
routed and in flight. There was no rear-guard, unless 
Winslow's brigade be said to be a volunteer rear-guard. 
It was not possible that the thousand men of these 
two regiments could successfully resist the whole of 
Forrest's army, though they would cei'tainly have tried 
it if ordered. There was simply nothing to be done 
but to follow the retreating army. If they did wrong 
in that, as the General's stricture clearly implies, then 
their duty was to fight the rebels, many times their 
own number, with the short-range weapons of cavalry, 
alone and without orders, and without even a hope of 
any support. If this was their duty, the General ought 
at least to have told them so, since the idea could 
never of itself have come into the head of any man not 
a Sturgis. The simpler idea of duty under which the 
regiments did act was, that in such an emergency they 
must maintain order and organization, keep near the 
army and within reach of orders, fight if attacked, and 
save themselves if possible with credit. 

When they had followed the retreat a few miles, the 
rebels again got guns near enough to shell the road. 



2 78 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



The brigade was then faced about, formed in column 
of squadrons, the Third Iowa being by that movement 
in front. The stragglers of the infantry and a number 
of slow or unfortunate teams had fallen to the rear. 
These now passed by, and no moving thing could be 
seen between the head of the brigade column and the 
rebel front. It was when this position was taken that 
Winslow rode forward to ask the General for orders, 
as already related. He was not in front of the retreat- 
ing column, as that false report, in effect, declares ; but 
the General himself was at least a mile ahead of the 
brigade in the retreat. It was at this meeting that he 
expressed his relief to hear that there was yet a body 
of troops intact in his army, and asked Winslow 
whether he could get ahead of the flying column and 
stop it, to make a stand. 

Colonel McMillen's statement is,^ that a short time 
before dark Winslow reported to Sturgis in person, 
and was by him directed to proceed with his brigade 
as rapidly as possible to Stubbs', and halt every man 
there. 

Winslow says^ that, at the meeting referred to, 
Sturgis proposed that he should proceed at once to 
Ripley, and try to check the retreat of the army ; that 
he (Winslow) asked if Stubbs' would not do, and 
that Sturgis answered that it would do admirably. 
Stubbs' was then only a few miles ahead, while Kipley 
was nearly twenty. 

Major Williams, Acting Assistant- Adjutant-General, 
says ^ that Winslow told him that evening, that he had 
Just seen Sturgis, had been ordered by him to get 

' Report of Adjt.-Gen. of Iowa for 1865, p. 133. 
' The same, p. 122. ^ The same, p. 13I. 



THE BATTLE OF BEIGE'S CROSS-EOA£»S. 279 

ahead of the retreating troops and stop them at a 
good position, and that he (Sturgis) had said that 
Stubbs' would do admirably. 

And Major "Williams adds that, when he had seen 
the Third Iowa reach the assigned position west of the 
creek, he went back towai'd the cross-roads, to hasten 
the Fourth Iowa, which, for some reason he did not 
know, had not followed the Third ; that when he 
came to the bridge he found the horses of the Fourth 
Iowa and the Tenth Missouri in a field south of the 
road, under a brisk artillery fire ; that wagons were 
then passing both ways, some toward the front and 
some to the rear; that that was the first intimation he 
had that the infantry had been driven back ; that 
farther on he found Major Pierce with the Fourth 
Iowa, dismounted ; that latei", when the brigade was 
formed in column of squadrons (that is, when it was 
in the rear of the retreating army, west of the creek), 
it was all the time under a heavy artillerj^ fire, " the 
shell bursting among and all around us," and that the 
ambulances, artillery, and most of the infantry were 
then in advance of the head of Winslow's column, that 
is, ahead in the retreat. As the retreating army must 
have occupied several miles of the road, a brigade 
which was immediately under the enemy's artillery 
fire could not have been at the head of the retreat, 
"leading the panic-stricken mass." 

In the face of statements like these, made by honor- 
able soldiers who have proved their courage and won 
success on many battle-fields, how base and fatuous 
appears the invention of General Sturgis. It is aston- 
ishing that a man could say so foolishly wicked a 
thing, foolish because there was not even the color of 



28o STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMEJSTT. 

triitli in it, and the contraiy could be easily proved, 
and wicked because it was a false and disgraceful 
charge against the men of that brigade who had not 
only done their duty as well as any troops in the army, 
and much better than most, but had actually saved 
him and his army from complete destruction. 

It is true that afterward, but before the General's 
report of the campaign was written, several of the 
brigade commanders wrote letters in aid of an effort to 
exculpate him and relieve him from the stigma of dis- 
aster; but they did it at his request, and not one of 
them ventured, by a single word, to criticise or reflect 
upon the conduct of any officer or man of the cavalry. 
And it must not be imagined to be more than a just 
completion of a true record when it is added, that the 
reason why there was no letter from Winslow among 
those written for the G-eneral in mistaken kindness, 
was that he declined to write one, although the General 
personally requested him to do so. 

The regiment was now quiet in camp, excepting 
picketing and fatigue duty, for' about ten days, the 
men humiliated and resentful in thinking of the defeat 
of their army and of the service they had rendered, 
not merely without reward, but without recognition. 
Some of their comrades of the campaign were now in 
loathsome Southern prisons, others dead on the field, 
others lying in hospital, to die or find themselves 
maimed for life, — the only compensation of any, so far 
as then appeared, being that in their general's official 
report their services and their sacrifices were ignored, 
and their courage and faithfulness basely denied. 

But nothing could save General Sturgis from the 
just consequence of his gross failure. He was relieved 



THE BATTLE OF B RICE'S CROSS-ROADS. 281 



•of command, and was never again in any important 
employment during the war, while the officer he had 
so basely maligned was steadily advanced in command 
and fame, and the brigade he had so grossly neglected 
and abused pursued a career of unbroken successes so 
brilliant that within six months after the disaster two 
highly distinguished generals ^ were sharply contending 
for the honor of having it in one of their divisions. 

General Sherman, on hearing of the disaster, imme- 
diately ordered that another campaign be made against 
Forrest under that fine old soldier. General A. J. 
Smith, Smith had just ari'ived from Louisiana, with 
two divisions of the Sixteenth Army Corps. He pro- 
ceeded immediately to organize and equip an army, a 
work requiring some time under the conditions then 
existing at Memphis. At the end of June he was 
ready to move. He made the headquarters of the 
movement at Saulsbury and Lagrange, towns in Ten- 
nessee about fifty miles southeast of Memphis, near the 
Mississippi line, on either side of Grand Junction, 
where the Mississippi Central Railroad crossed the 
Memphis h Charleston. The Mississippi Central 
could be used in the campaign at least as far as 
Holly Springs. 

General Smith's army was composed of about ten 
thousand infantry and three thousand cavalry, with the 
usual proportion of artillery. The infantry was in 
two divisions, under General " Joe " Mower and Colonel 
Moore, and one brigade (Colored) under Colonel Bouton. 
Colonels McMillen and Wilkin, who had commands 
under Sturgis at Brice's Cross-roads, were both out in 
command of brigades on the present campaign ; and, 

' Dana and Upton. 



282 STOJi Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

iinliappily, the brave Wilkin was killed. The cavalry 
represented two brigades, the First, commanded by 
Colonel Karge, and the Second, by Colonel Winslow, 
General Grierson again commanding the division. 
Winslow's brigade was still composed of the Third 
and Fourth Iowa and Tenth Missouri, with a detach- 
ment of the Seventh Illinois, and Captain Joyce's two 
guns ; and on this campaign it reported about thirteen 
hundred men. The Foui-th Iowa furnished six hun- 
dred and sixty-nine men and officers, marching under 
Major Pierce, though Lieutenant-Colonel Peters joined 
a few days later and took command. On the 7th of 
Jiily, Coon's brigade of cavalry, including the Second 
Iowa, was added to the division from Lagrange. 

On the 24th of June the regiment mounted with 
its brigade at Memphis, and set out for Saulsbury. 
There was a halt at Moscow for two or three days. 
On the 28th the brigade reached Saulsbury. Here, 
while the infantiy was assembling and the final prep- 
arations were being made, the cavalry did but little for 
a week, except that two companies of the Third Iowa 
had a sharp encounter with a body of rebel cavaliy on 
the Ripley road, in which they gained high credit, a 
good omen of the success of the campaign to come. 

Now occurred an event which was of the STreatest 
value in increasing the effectiveness of the regiment. 
On the 4th of July, at Saulsbury, the Spencer car- 
bine was received and supplied to all the companies, 
forty to each company. The surplus Union and 
Sharp's carbines were turned in. The very poor and 
inefficient armament of the regiment has already been 
spoken of. It is hard to believe, since the war, that 
it was seriously expected of cavalry that they would 



spejvci:r carbines. 283 

do good service in the field witli tlie antiquated and 
clumsy weapons given tiiem during tlie first two years. 
The Spencer was a riied " magazine " gun, carrying 
six metallic cartridges in a tube in the stock. One 
more cartridge could be kept in position in the barrel. 
Looking at it now, it seems clumsy and heavy, and, 
compared mth the inventions of later years, it cannot 
be classed very high. It did. not work as rapidly and 
correctly as later guns do, and there was the peculiar 
danger of the bursting of the stock by the explosion 
of a cartridge, caused when the pointed bullet of one 
cartridge struck too haid upon the cap of the one 
lying before it in the tul>e. In the shock of riding or 
other rapid motion this sometimes occuiTed, and men 
were killed or dreadfully wounded by such explosions. 
But to have a carbine of better range and more certain 
shot than any other gun they knew, from which seven 
shots Could be fired without loss of time, and without 
taking th^. attention off the enemy, was of striking 
value in heightenin g the self-confidence and improving 
the tnorciU of the 3avalry. From that time on to the 
end of the war ¥> inslow's regiments not only clearly 
won in every crtntest, but they expected to win, and 
even acquired a sort of habit of looking upon every 
approaching fight as " a sure thing." And there was 
U corresponding disheartenment on the part of the 
rebel cavaliy. They had gained a high reputation for 
the skill and distance of their rifle-shooting, and they 
had a good many of the breech-loading carbines for- 
merly used }>y the Union cavalry. But they never got 
any numbei of Spencers worth speaking of ; and, from 
the time of the fighting on this campaign, they showed 
a distinct imwillingness to meet their enemies. The story 



284 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



was popular in the Union camps when the breech- 
loading magazine arms were introduced, that the rebels 
were saying that the Yankees had now made a gun 
that they loaded on Sundays and fired all the week. 

On the 5th of July the army marched from Sauls- 
bury and Lagrange toward Eipley, and the campaign 
was begun. The weather was veiy hot and the rain 
storms, though not so frequent as in June, often im- 
peded the march by converting the roads into deep 
mud. On the 7th the column approached Ripley, the 
cavalry on the left flank. This evening the infantry 
met the enemy on the main road, while at the same 
time the cavalry, on the left, ran upon Lis right flank. 
A general skirmish followed, the enemy slowly falling 
back to the town. The Third and Fourth Iowa were 
both engaged in this affair, though without loss. In 
the morning it was found that the enemy had retreated 
southward. The cavalry then moved from Ripley on 
the Tupelo road, while the infantry kept a southerly 
route, toward Pontotoc. By a long circuit, the cavalry- 
rejoined the infantry at night, on "the Pontotoc road. 
This was a reconnoissance in force, the head-quarter3 of 
the enemy being then at Tupelo. During this mar-ch 
of the cavalry the Third Iowa, under Colonel Noble, 
was detached and sent to Kelley's Mill, four miles fai^- 
ther east. Colonel Noble found the rebels posted ifl 
force to hold the ford at Kelley's, and then returned 
to the column. His left flank was attacked on the, 
way back, but the rebels were repulsed with a loss of 
one killed and two captured, while there was no loss 
in the Third. 

The cavalry, operating upon the flanks and as ad- 
vanced guard, moved on toward Pontotoc. On the 



FORREST DEFEATED AT TUPELO. 285 

9tli the Tallahatcliie was reached and crossed by the 
whole force. On the 10th the Fourth Iowa was in 
front, and ran upon the rebel cavalry. Immediately 
the lines were thrown out and the enemy pressed. 
After a sharp skirmish he fell back to the junction of 
that road with the main road from Kipley to Pontotoc. 
Here he was stubborn, and appeared to have a con- 
siderable force. The infantry came up on the Kipley 
road and took position, relieving the cavalry. It being 
late in the day the whole command went into camp. 
The next day the regiment had a very similar experi- 
ence, and its skirmish at the crossing of Cherry Creek, 
near Pontotoc, became so heavy that the brigade was 
dismounted to fight on foot. But up to this time there 
was no loss in the regiment. 

The force of the enemy was now pretty well 
known. Forrest's recent success had enabled him to 
fill up his ranks and improve his equipment. There 
were about twelve thousand infantry and cavaliy, 
Lieutenant-General Stephen D. Lee in chief com- 
mand.^ This army was in very good condition and 
well equipped. On the 11th Lee made some attempt 
to hold Pontotoc, but by noon he gave it up, and 
the cavalry entered. The infantry was that night 
encamped south of the to^vn, on the Okalona road. 

' There were three divisions (Chalmers, Buford, and Roddey) and two 
brigades (Mabry and Neely) of cavalry, one division of infantry brought 
from Mobile for the campaign, and one brigade of militia under General 
Gholson, with five batteries of twenty guns. See Jordan's "Campaigns of 
Forrest," pp. 497, 499, and " Hancock's Diary, a History of the Second 
Tennessee Cavalry," p. 420. Both these authors admit that their forces 
numbered at least 9,000, but it is difficult to believe that ten or twelve 
brigades and five batteries, within a month after Forrest's brilliant success at 
Brice's Cross-roads, could have mustered only g,ooo, while an examination of 
the Confederate official returns nearest in date (War Records, vol. 39, part 2, 
pp. 592,624,630) justifies an estimate of 12,000 effectives. 



286 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

The cavalry was marched on toward Okalona, to 
develop the enemy's position, which was found six 
or eight miles below Pontotoc, well fortified. Wins- 
low's brigade was dismounted and advanced to attack 
before the position was fully developed. There was 
sharp fighting, of which the greater share fell to the 
Third Iowa ; but the brigade was withdrawn by Grrier- 
son, and the army again encamped. The next morning, 
the 12th, the column countermarched through Ponto- 
toc, and moved off eastward, on the road to Tupelo. 
Two battalions of the Third Iowa were sent forward 
in advance, led by Colonel Noble, and the remainder 
of the brigade was assigned to duty as rear-guard of 
the army. The rebel cavalry was quickly at work 
in the rear, and the brigade had a very active and 
exciting day. At one time it was so serious that the 
rear brigade of the infantry (Colonel Bouton's Colored 
men) was held back to assist. The battalion of the 
Third Iowa left with the Fourth was, through a mis- 
understanding as to its position, cut off by a rapid 
movement of the enemy ; and distinguished itself by 
charging directly through the rebel lines to regain its 
place. The two battalions in front were often engaged 
in skirmishing, but they constantly advanced. The 
enemy left a number of dead on the field in this fight- 
ing, but the Third suffered no loss. 

Harrisburg, three miles west of Tupelo, was reached 
that night, and the next morning Tupelo was occu- 
pied. Winslow's brigade moved in front into Tupelo, 
and immediately set to work to destroy the railway 
and j^ublic property. It was soon assisted by the in- 
fantry. Meantime the heavy picket on the Harrisburg 
road, composed of three companies of the Third Iowa 



FORREST DEFEATED AT TUPELO. 287 



and two (L and M) of the Fourth, was attacked by 
the enemy in force. The picket held its position, 
resisting the advance, until General Smith, having 
formed his lines, ordered it to retire. Five of the 
rebels were known to be killed in this affair, with a 
loss of two lowans wounded, both in the Third. In 
the afternoon the enemy appeared in force in the rear 
and made a determined attack upon the train. The 
infantry guard there had a hot engagement; and at 
about four o'clock Winslow's brigade was ordered 
back to reinforce. It hurried out and immediately 
took part in this affair. The enemy was repulsed, and 
the cavalry brought the train into Tupelo at eleven in the 
night. Almost immediately afterward the enemy again 
attacked on the Pontotoc road, and Winslow's brigade 
was again moved out. It took position at the front, 
about two miles from Tupelo, and remained there in 
line, dismounted, all night. The rebels made repeated 
efforts or feints to advance, and employed their ar- 
tillery steadily in throwing shell. ' At daybreak the 
brigade was ordered forward for a reconnoissance in 
force. Colonel Winslow led, and soon developed the 
enemy's lines, still in position in force. A general skir- 
mish ensued, in which all the regiments were engaged, 
and continued until Smith ordered Winslow to retire 
within the infantry lines. Then Lee and Forrest ad- 
vanced in force to give battle. 

Smith brought his whole army into action, keeping 
the cavalry on the flanks and in the rear. The assault 
upon the infantry divisions was met very steadily, and 
repulsed. It was repeated and again I'epulsed. The 

' It appears, by Jordan's " Campaigns of Forrest," that all the fighting here 
mentioned on the part of the rebels was conducted by Forrest in person, with 
Mabry's brigade of Texans : see page 502. 



\ 
288 STOJ? y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 



rebels appeared tlien to grow desperate, and rushed 
upon the lines furiously. It was as if they had fully 
expected a success and were angry upon finding the 
undertaking so difficult. Smith's lines were forced, 
back a little, but to no disadvantage ; and again the 
rebels retired with heavy loss. They made two fur- 
ther attempts, but with no such spirit ; and finally left 
the field. It was an excessively hot day, and for three 
hours, almost steadily, all of the rebels and all of 
Smith's infantry were engaged. 

The duty of Winslow's brigade, on the right flank, 
was in particular to hold the EUistown road, and pre- 
vent the use of it by the enemy. For that purpose the 
different regiments patrolled the country covering the 
road, within immediate hearing and partly in sight of 
the battle, but without taking a part in it directly.^ 

From caution, or because of the great heat,^ or for 
both reasons. Smith did not follow up his victory ; but 
in the afternoon he ordered out a detachment of the 
cavalry to reconnoitre and discover the rebel position. 
This was done by the Third and Fourth Iowa. The 
enemy was found in position about two miles to the 
west of the recent battle-field; and, on the approach 
of the cavalry, he deployed into line and opened 
with artillery. After a brisk skirmish in which the 
Third Iowa had several men and horses wounded,, 
the brigade was withdrawn until a suitable camping- 
ground was reached, where it halted for the night. 
AH the other troops went into bivouac at the same 
time, and it was the general expectation that early the 

' This battle is called " Tupelo" by the Unionists and " Harrisburg " by the- 
Con federates. 

' Many men on both sides were prostrated under the burning sun, and some 
died. 



FORREST DEFEATED AT TUPELO. 289 

next day there would be either another engagement 
or a pursuit of the retreating rebels. But that night' 
General Smith ordered a return to Memphis. He had 
achieved a substautial success, but at the cost of severe 
loss and weakening of his own army. The heat was 
intense and very debilitating ; the distance to Mem- 
phis, the nearest depot, was about one hundred and 
fifty miles ; his men were on half rations, and the ani- 
mals on yet scantier forage. 

Early in the morning of the 15th the column was 
formed for the return march, and Winslow's brigade 
was sent out on the Pontotoc road to reconnoitre, 
while the infantry divisions moved northward on the 
road to Old Town Creek. The brigade found the 
enemy in position in the woods, within a few miles of 
the battle-field of the 14th. The advanced regiment 
was deployed as skirmishers. The enemy met this 
movement with cavalry in equal force, but slowly re- 
tired. Unwilling to move far from the main column, 
and suspecting that the enemy intended an attempt to 
cut him off from Tupelo, Winslow, reaching a good 
position, decided not to proceed farther. Soon after 
this an order was received from General Smith to 
retire and take the left flank of the infantry column. 

Forrest, apparently supposing that he had gained 
some success in this movement, rapidly advanced upon 
the left flank. The cavalry was held in position, and 
Mower's division of the infantry moved forward to 
meet the attack. The enemy then undertook a general 
charge, but, for some reason unknown (prisoners said 
it was the unwillingness of the troops), it came to a 
stop when yet several hundred yards off. There the 
opposing lines remained for a time, until the impetuous 
19 



290 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

Mower charged and drove back tlie enemy's line in. 
disorder. 

The army then resumed its march northward, but 
moved slowly. At the crossing of Old Town Creek, 
five miles from Tupelo, early in the afternoon, a fresh 
body of the enemy appeared in the rear, and made a 
determined attack with artillery. Our infantry and 
artillery were mostly over the creek, and Winslow's 
brigade was on the left flank and rear, still south of 
the creek. It was quickly put into position, and, the 
enemy advancing in force, was dismounted and brought 
into spirited action. All the regiments lost here in 
men and horses. While the fight was in progress 
General Mower's division of infantry came up at 
quick time, with a couple of batteries ; and the rebels 
were again repulsed, and driven far beyond the field. 
The army then bivouacked on the Old Town Creek, 
but the most of Winslow's brigade was kept out all 
night on heavy picket posts ; as indeed it had been the 
night before. 

The march was resumed in th6 morning, Winslow's 
brigade in the rear, but there was no further fighting, 
except that at Ellistown the Third Iowa aided a regi- 
ment of infantry in repelling a sudden and brief attack 
of the enemy, the last that was made. There was no 
loss in the Third. 

The fighting and excitement were now past, and the 
hardships of marching in the terrible heat, on starving 
rations (now reduced to less than half) and with many 
horses breaking down, were severely felt. The duty 
of the cavalry was divided between the advance and 
rear, but a large part of the time was spent by detach- 
ments in the search for forage. As is so often the case, 



FORREST DEFEATED AT TUPELO. 291 

the hardship of the horses was more pitiful than that 
of the men. During the days of the fighting the horses 
had almost no food at all. 

Marching by way of New Albany and Salem, mov- 
ing slowly of necessity, because of the exhausting heat 
and the great fatigue of all in the command, in the 
evening of the 23d, Winslow's regiments reached their 
camp at Memphis, and lay down to rest with great re- 
lief and with as great satisfaction. The aggregate of 
the marches of the cavalry in this campaign was over 
four hundred miles. The losses of the Fourth Iowa 
were one man killed, fifteen wounded, one missing, ten 
horses shot, and twenty lost by other casualties.* 

It was a successful campaign, and its success was 
achieved over great difficulties. The army saw that 
there was a general at its head, and the cavalry who 
had been with Sturgis had a good opportunity to prove 
that his failure was due to mismanagement and not to 
the bad quality of the troops. Winslow's brigade had 
very promptly and successfully done all the work given 
to it, with comparatively little loss ; and Forrest had 
been defeated and so severely handled that his operar 
tions in Mississippi were never afterward of any im- 
portance. From that day he had only petty successes, 
until his final utter rout at Selma. There was good oc- 
casion for pride; and the soreness caused by the ex- 
perience with Sturgis began to disappear. 

But Forrest was not yet destroyed. Within a week 
after his return to Memphis General Smith was half 
through his preparations for another campaign in Mis- 
sissippi. This time the army was smaller. The infan- 
try and artillery numbered about seven thousand, and 
the cavalry about five thousand. 

' See Appendix : " Engagements and Casualties." 



292 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

The cavalry at Mempliis had been, on the 25th of 
July, reorganized as a corps, designated the Cavalry 
Corps of the District of West Tennessee, and com- 
manded by General Grierson. The fourteen regiments 
were thrown into two divisions, the First, commanded 
by General Hatch, and the Second, by Colonel Wins- 
low. The Fourth Iowa with the Third Iowa and 
Tenth Missouri composed the Second Brigade of the 
Second Division, under Colonel Noble of the Third 
Iowa. The two divisions turned out about two thou- 
sand five hundred each, the Fourth Iowa contingent 
being about six hundred and fifty officers and men. 
The Fourth Iowa went out under Captain Dee, there 
being no field-officer then available, but, at the Talla- 
hatchie, on the 9th of August, Lieutenant-Colonel Peters 
came up and took command 

The Fourth Iowa marched from Memphis on the 
3d of August, by the Pigeon Roost road, as escort 
to the artillery and the ammunition train. It con- 
tinued in that service till Holly Springs was reached. 
The remainder of the cavalry left Memphis on the 5th 
and rode directly to Holly Springs, stopping only to 
bivouac. Meantime the infantry was marching by 
different roads, under orders to concentrate at Holly 
Springs. The Mississippi Central Railroad, by way of 
Grand Junction, was to be kept open, to forward sup- 
plies and return the sick and disabled as might be 
required. During the progress of the infantry io 
Holly Springs, on the 8th of August, Winslow's divi- 
sion of the cavalry (the Fourth Iowa having rejoined) 
was sent southward, on the Oxford road. At the Tal- 
lahatchie River, in the night, it was found that the 
rebel general, Chalmers, had burned the bridge and 



ANOTHER CAMPAIGN AGAINST FORREST. 293 

was posted on tlie south bank with a brigade of cav- 
alry. In the morning he tried to prevent the crossing 
by keeping up a fire upon the position of the bridge. 
"With the aid of Joyce's guns, this was answered with 
such effect that the rebels were driven back from the 
river. They managed, however, to continue from a 
distance a fire sharp enough to annoy the men who 
were put to work on the bridge. The Fourth Iowa 
took part in this fight across the river, and when the 
new bridge was ready was the first to cross. This was 
before noon of the 9th. As soon as the regiment was 
over it was moved forward, and when the brigade was 
all over a determined attack was made. After some 
resistance the rebels gave way and rode rapidly south, 
to gain a new position on Hurricane Creek. Here 
they again occupied the south bank, supported by 
artillery and with Chalmers in command. Winslow's 
division moved to the attack in a body. While Cap- 
tain Joyce rnaintained a rapid fire from his two guns, 
to cover the movement, the men dismounted, forced 
the passage of the stream, and charged the rebels in 
their position. A heavy rain had already begun, and 
it was now falling in torrents ; but that was a difficulty 
greater for the enemy than for our men. The Spencer 
carbine could be managed well in a rain. The line 
never halted in the attack, and the rebels broke and 
retreated to Oxford. The command was mounted and 
marched upon Oxford, reaching there the same even- 
ing. The rebels made an effort to hold the place, but 
gave it up on the first advance. The division went 
into camp at Oxford, but was the next morning with- 
drawn to the Tallahatchie, and from the Tallahatchie, 
the next day, to Holly Springs. At Holly Springs on 



294 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

the 12tli, it met the infantry. For several days Gen- 
eral Smith remained at Holly Springs, the cavalry 
being posted in his front and flanks, the Fourth Iowa 
at Lamar, nine miles northeast. On the 17th he 
advanced toward Oxford, directing Colonel Winslow 
to relieve, with detachments of his division of the 
cavalry, the outlying regiments of infantiy at Iludson- 
ville. Watt's Trestle, and other places, and to hold 
Holly Springs until the last train of cars carrying the 
sick and disabled and other impedimenta was on its 
way to Memphis. On the 18th, these duties accom- 
plished, the division set out for Abbeville. It was 
now and during the remainder of the campaign com- 
manded by Colonel Karge, of the First brigade, 
Colonel Winslow being disabled by his old Me- 
chanicsburg wound. On the next day it passed the 
infantry and again took the front. On the 20th it 
again occupied the beautiful town of Oxford, the 
enemy retiring before its advance without a conflict. 
On the 22d it was ordered to take the rear of the 
army on the return march to Memphis. The enemy 
had not yet been developed in any force. The reason 
of this countermarch without an important engage- 
ment is unknown to the writer, unless it was Forrest's 
dash upon Memphis, hereinafter described, which was 
made on the 21st. The cavalry was kept at some 
distance in the rear of the infantry on the return 
march, doing no service of special note. Its move- 
ment was made so leisurely that it did not reach 
Memphis until the 30th. 

The march of the regiment on this expedition was 
about three hundred and fifty miles, and the roads 
were much of the time very heavy with mud; but 



FORREST TAKES MEMPHIS. 295 

there was no material lack of food for either men or 
animals, and all returned in good condition, though 
weary enough. The return was Just in time for an- 
other campaign, one of the greatest the regiment made 
during the war. On the very next day orders were 
received for a movement into Arkansas, against the 
famous rebel general. Sterling Price ; and at daybreak 
on the 2d of September all the then serviceable horses 
of the brigade were mounted and moving to new fields 
of battle. 

But meantime there occuiTed at Memphis a military 
episode, dramatic and in some respects amusing, and 
no doubt mortifying enough to the general then in 
command in the city, as well as to the general then 
carefully seeking Forrest in Mississippi. While Smith, 
near Oxford, was feeling the way to a decisive engage- 
ment with Forrest, and the sanguine Washburn in 
Memphis was in daily expectation of news of his utter 
destruction, 'Forrest rode into Memphis at the head of 
two brigades of chosen troopers. 

On the 18th, after ten days of manoeuvring and inef- 
fective fighting with Smith, Forrest suddenly resolved 
upon one of his sensational strokes. His admirers have 
praised it as an instance of brilliant military judgment, 
pointing out that the Confederate department com- 
mander and the governor of Mississippi had neglected 
to concentrate troops in the north of that State (as 
Forrest had urgently advised), that Forrest's own 
forces were obviously too small for a general engage- 
ment with Smith, and that Smith would certainly 
penetrate and ravage the State as soon as he should dis- 
cover the weakness of his adversary, and drawing the 
conclusion that Forrest's only hope lay in some move- 



296 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

ment in Smith's rear, such as would compel him to 
retire. But Forrest was already known to be fond of 
making wild dashes upon his enemy, if not erratic at 
least not connected with any distinct plan; and he 
could not have hoped to hold Memphis, except by the 
merest chance or luck, long enough to produce any 
substantial military effect. It is true that Smith did 
begin his countermarch to Memphis the day after For- 
rest's cowp^ and just after he must have had news of it, 
but he proceeded so slowly, spending a whole week on 
the way, that he could not have been under any ap- 
prehension. 

Leaving Smith's front between Abbeville and Oxford, 
the night of the 18th, with two thousand picked men 
and horses from Neely's brigade of Mississippi cavalry 
and Bell's brigade of Tennessee cavalry, with four 
guns, Forrest marched west to Panola, there turned 
north, passing Smith's right flank, and made direct for 
Memphis. He left his principal division general, Chal- 
mers, in command of the remainder of his forces, with 
orders to occupy Smith's attention. Riding night and 
day, stopping only to make rude bridges over the 
Hickahala and Coldwater rivers, he found himself at 
the Union outpost on the Hernando road just before 
daybreak of Sunday the 21st. He made his dispositions 
in the hope of capturing all the pickets without any 
firing, so that his men might be in the streets before 
their character was known ; and he carefully instructed 
different detachments for the capture of the Union 
generals, the seizure of the fort and the artillery, and 
the release of the rebel prisoners confined in the Irving 
Block and other buildings. General Washburn, com- 
manding the district, Greneral Buckland, commanding 



FORREST TAKES MEMPHIS. 297 



tlie post, iiDcl General Hurlbiit, of the Sixteenth Corps, 
were specially sought, there were several thousand 
captured rebels in the city, and large quantities of 
stores and ammunition. 

The weather had been very hot and sultry for sev- 
eral days, and during the early hours of that morning 
there was a thick fog. The rebels were usually over- 
fond of yelling and shooting, and on this occasion the 
party charged with the duty of capturing the Union 
outposta quietly were unable to restrain themselves. 
Some of them fired at the outer post, which of course 
alarmed the inner post. That made a charge necessary, 
and the advanced rebels charged with all their cus- 
tomary noise. The excitement thus caused among 
them, with perhaps the prospect of success or plunder, 
turned the heads of many or the most of their column ; 
and when they saw the camps of the Union troops 
they scattered among them, intent upon plunder and 
the capture of horses. It was only with much diffi- 
culty and delay that their officers could get enough of 
them together to attempt the really serious business 
of the raid. Then it was too late. Washburn and 
Hurlbut had reached Fort Pickering, and the garrison 
was under arms. Buckland and Dustan were among 
their troops, hurrying them to the various points of 
defense, the guards at the military prisons were 
strengthened, and there remained nothing of any 
importance that Forrest could accomplish. Indeed, 
his men had become so divided in attacking the dif- 
ferent Union camps that they were compelled to fight 
at several places at once, without mutual support. As 
it was Just daybreak when the attack was made, the 
most of the Union men were asleep or abed, and their 



298 STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

first intimation of danger was in tlie charge among 
their tents. Of course many were killed, wounded, or 
captured ; but all accounts agree that in all the camps 
attacked the men resisted with courage and fought as 
well as was possible under the circumstances. In the 
more remote camps the men were aroused by the firing 
and by messengers sent in hot haste, and they turned 
out under orders to meet the enemy. They appear to 
have held together well as companies or regiments, but 
efforts to organize them into effective larger bodies 
were only partially successful, because of the haste 
required, the thick fog, and the confusion naturally 
resulting from an attack at that hour. It should be 
understood that the troops then at Memphis, except a 
few " Hundred Days " regiments ^ and the garrison at 
Fort Pickering, were little more than the remnants of 
the regiments which had gone upon the campaign with 
Smith. But, under the energetic efforts of Generals 
Buckland and Dustan, aided by Colonel Bell of the 
veteran Eighth Iowa Infantry, these men were moved 
through the city toward its southern border, and 
brought into some proper relation to each other. The 
boldest of the enemy had not advanced, or had not 
undertaken to remain, anywhere north of the middle 
of the city, and they all now fell back to the southern 
outskirt. Here for some time they made a stand, and 
there was stubborn fighting. But, as the fog lifted 
and the position of the enemy could be seen, move- 
ments could be made intelligently, and artillery could 
be used with effect. Forrest then retreated precipi- 

' In the summer of 1864, under a special call of the President, volunteers 
were received and organized into new regiments, to serve one hundred days. 
They were to occupy posts and garrisons, and thus release experienced troops 
for field service. 



FORREST TAKES MEMPHIS. 299 

tately to the south side of Cane Creek, above five 
miles from the city. From there he sent a message 
to Washburn, suggesting that clothing and food be 
sent out for his prisoners, and then moved on to the 
south side of the Nonconnah, a larger stream, four 
miles farther. Here he waited for the supplies, and 
upon receiving them set out rapidly again, and only 
halted for the night at Hernando, twenty-five miles 
south of Memphis. His hasty retreat is difficult to 
understand, as he must have known that there were 
not enough horses at Memphis to mount a pursuing 
force, and his own men and horses had just been three 
days and four nights on a forced march. 

The immediate gain of Forrest was about two 
hundred prisoners, half civilians and half soldiers, but 
none in important positions, and about one hundred 
horses. The Union killed and wounded were eighty 
of all ranks. Forrest left behind about the same 
number killed and wounded and thirty captured. He 
had failed to reach either of the generals, his attacks 
on the prisons were repulsed, and he was not permitted 
to destroy any property; but, if the movement was 
the cause of Smith's retui'n to Memphis, it was perhaps 
justified. 

Forrest's men did not reach the camp of the Fourth 
Iowa, but many of the other regiments returning with 
Smith found their homes despoiled. That was the 
fortune of war, however, and everybody saw the grim 
humor of Forrest's audacious stroke. And the predica- 
ments of the Union generals supplied the means for 
making camp jokes for an unusually long time. 

Company C of the Fourth Iowa Cavalry had a con- 
spicuous share in the fighting with Forrest. It was 



300 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

detached from tlie regiment the first day of August, 
and with Company Gr of the Third Iowa was assigned 
to duty in the city under the Provost-Marshal, Colonel 
Geddes. Captain Beckwith was placed in command 
of the two companies, and they were camped in the 
southern part of the town, on Alabama Street. They 
were kept very actively employed in special scouting, 
making arrests, and the like, and of course sent no 
men on the campaign with Smith. Forrest's men 
passed near Beckwith's camp without seeing it, or 
without attacking it, but immediately afterward the 
colonel of an infantry regiment encamped near assumed 
command in that locality, and ordered the cavaliy to 
be posted so as to hold the crossing of the Gayoso 
Bayou and the streets between that stream and the 
river. Nothing occurring there, however, and it being 
unknown what had occurred or was occurring in the 
city. Lieutenant Baker, of C, at his earnest request, was 
permitted to take half his company and learn what the 
situation was. Baker soon fell in with a detachment of 
the Sixth Illinois Cavalry, led by Colonel Starr of that 
regiment, who had come in from Smith's front the 
evening before and was to return that morning. Find- 
ing that the rebels were on the Hernando road, Starr 
boldly undertook to develop their position. With his 
little detachment and Baker's platoon, he moved 
beyond the State Female College, a large brick build- 
ing, the last of the town on that road. There was 
then a belt of woods extending across the road not far 
beyond this building, and the enemy's line was in the 
border of the wood. Starr and Baker were warned by 
a sharp fire, and fell back to the college building, 
which they used as a shelter. The rebels attacked 



FORREST TAKES MEMPHIS. 301 

them there, but were driven off in confusion. Two or 
three times then they re-formed and made regular 
assaults upon the position. They even used two guns 
upon the building, and injured it greatly ; but the 
cavalry obstinately held on, and with their Spencers 
made it a dear fight for the rebels. But Colonel Starr 
was mortally and Lieutenant Baker severely wounded 
early in the action, and several of their men fell before 
they gained the shelter of the college walls. Among 
the latter was Private Boham of Company C. Lieu- 
tenant Baker's wound permanently disabled him, and 
led to his death a few years later. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

THE DEFEAT OF STEELING PRICE BATTLES OF CAVALRY 

ONLY THE LAST OF THE REBELLION IN 

MISSOURI AND ARKANSAS. 

The operations of war are often likened to the play 
on a chess-board. A movement in one part of the 
field has its effect in another part. If you are unable 
to hold one position, you seek to strengthen another. 
If you invade your adversary's territory and fail, you 
must expect him soon to be ravaging your own, per- 
haps on distant squares. 

The failure of General Banks' great "Red River 
Expedition" in Louisiana, in April, 1864, led to an 
aggressive campaign of the rebels in Missouri in Oc- 
tober of that year, in which the Fourth Iowa, as a part 
of Winslow's brigade, made a splendid reputation. 
Hardly any campaign of the war was more picturesque 
than this, or more brilliant at its culmination, or more 
effective in its results. It is not too much to say, that 
all the strength gained to the cause of the rebels by 
their defeat of Banks in the swamps of Louisiana was 
dissipated a few months later by the utter overthrow 
of Price in a grer^t crash of cavalry on the high prairies 
of the border of Missouri and Kansas. 

In April, 1864, the three generals, Banks, Smith, and 
Steele, with over 30,000 men and a fleet of twenty 

302 



THE DEFEAT OF STERLING PRICE. 303 

gunboats and armored steamboats, moved against 
Shreveport in northwest Louisiana. The capture of 
that place was to result in the occupation or substan- 
tial control of all Louisiana and Texas, and in strength- 
ening the Unionizing movement in Arkansas, which 
was then making encouraging progress. And it was 
Grant's purpose, upon the fall of Shreveport, to send 
the successful troops against Mobile. Great prepara- 
tions were made at New Orleans. Sherman went to 
that city for personal consultation with Banks, and 
sent two of his best divisions to aid him. But the 
campaign failed, unhappily and wholly, all the invad- 
ing forces were driven back, and the position of the 
enemy was suddenly changed from that of hunted 
game to that of masters of the field. They now ruled 
supreme throughout Texas and all of Louisiana except 
the banks of the Mississippi, and in Arkansas their 
cavalry brigades amused themselves by raiding around 
Steele, cooped up in Little Rock, and attacking his 
outlying posts from Helena on the Mississippi to Fort 
Smith on the Indian border. To the people the vic- 
tors were no longer the weak and hunted rebels, but the 
possessors and defenders of the country ; and no doubt 
they supposed that the success of the Southern cause 
west of the Mississippi had been achieved. No won- 
der the numbers and means of the enemy were in- 
creased. Many men who had been protected by the 
presence of Union troops now enlisted with the rebels 
or were forced into their ranks under the conscription 
acts. Others who had been dissembling or " hiding 
out," unwilling to take either side, thought it safe now 
to join the party which appeared to have finally got 
the power. No wonder either that the successful 



304 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

enemy should think of regaining Missouri too, — their 
counter-attack upon another part of the chess-board. 

Among tlie forces aiding Generals Taylor and Kirby 
Smith against the Banks' movement were several 
divisions of infantry and cavalry in southwestern 
Arkansas, under Generals Price and Fagan. The most 
of the famous cavalry and partisan leaders of Missouri 
and Arkansas were then with or within control of that 
army, including Shelby, Marmaduke, Dobbins, Parsons, 
and Cabell. Price and Fagan had been operating in 
Arkansas, and in the enemy's plan of campaign they 
were kept north of Shreveport, on the border of Arkan- 
sas, to oppose the junction of Banks and Steele. Upon 
Steele's advance toward Shreveport they had met him 
in battle at Jenkins' Ferry, had defeated him and 
driven him back into Little Bock. They were then, 
practically, the masters of Arkansas, the Union troops 
holding little more than the three posts, Helena, Little 
Rock, and Fort Smith. 

Missouri was the home of Price, Shelby, and Marma- 
duke, and of a large part of their followers. For twa 
or three years these Missourians had been kept out of 
their homes. The State was in all parts infested by 
Secessionist emissaries and sympathizei's, who were oc- 
cupied in getting away the young men for the rebel 
army, in promoting secret societies to operate against 
the Unionists, and in causing disorder and crime. 
These miscreants would be of very great help in a rebel 
occupation of the State, by giving information of the 
disposition and movements of Union forces, pointing 
out places and property to be seized or plundered, and 
in couscnptions. And, what was more important, and 
no doubt the greatest temptation to Price, a man of 



THE DEFEA T OF STERLING PRICE. 305 

long political experience, his success would liave an 
effect, perhaps a very great one, in the presidential 
election soon to take place. The contest between Lin- 
coln and McClellan was pending. The South was 
everywhere friendly to McClellan, and placed great 
hopes upon his success. The occupation of Missouri 
would prevent a vote in that State, would increase the 
vote of the " Peace Men " and diminish the vote of the 
" War Men " in other States, and particularly in the 
adjoining States. Its influence might be great enough 
to turn the scales between the candidates. It was a 
scheme that must have greatly flattered the ambition 
of Price, w^ho was both a soldier and a statesman. A 
Confederate writer has said : " Much reliance was placed, 
too, especially by Price and Marmaduke, upon the se- 
cret orders of the ' Knights of the Golden Circle,' or 
' Golden Cross,' and upon the ' Copperheads.' " ' 

The promoters of this bold campaign were so sanguine 
that they actually expected, not only to retake Mis- 
souri, but to hold it. The pretended governor of that 
State, Thomas C. Reynolds, who had never been per- 
mitted to enjoy the honors of his official position, ex- 
cept in a hollow and unsatisfactory manner in other 
States already provided with governors, was one of the 
schemers; and he rode with eager hopes at the head 
of the redeeming column, proudly insisting that the 
proper place for the Governor of Missouri, marching to 
restoration, was in the front. 

Not only high hopes but virtuous resolutions filled 
the breasts of the leaders. They would save Missouri 
and drive out its vandal oppressors. It was to be " an 
army of occupation," as Price announced, and " not on 

' Edwards, in " Shelby and His Men ; or, The War in the West," page 378. 
20 



3o6 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

a raid." The people would hail their coming with Joy, 
and gratefully bless their beneficent rule. So all the 
general officers, from the department commander down, 
and " Governor " Reynolds, joined in a chorus of proc- 
lamations and instructions, to the effect that they were 
undertaking a just and holy cause, that there must 
be no influence of personal feeling or revenge, no wan- 
ton acts of destruction or violence, nor any seizure of 
property except under necessity, by proper authority, 
and upon compensation. The division commanders 
accordingly issued their orders, embodying these pious 
resolves and warning the men that a speedy way to 
death would be found in any disobedience.^ 

Price was singularly well fitted for the command of 
the enterprise. He was very popular with all classes 
of Missourians, including many Union men. He had 
been a representative in Congress from Missouri, gov- 
ernor of the State for several terms, and was an officer 
in the Mexican war. He was an excellent soldier and 
general, of a conservative temperament and high ad- 
ministrative abilities. He was held in great estimation 
in the rebel councils, and upon this occasion he appears 

* This fine virtue seems to have got no further than the orders. The actual 
march of the invaders was as destructive as a cyclone. Neither friend nor 
enemy was spared. The redeemers, with faithful impartiality, robbed Seces- 
sionist and Unionist alike. They plundered and burnt houses and stores, they 
carried off or killed the live stock, and whatever they could not put to use they 
wantonly destroyed. Even their honorable guest, the " Governor," when he 
was at the very gates of the capital he had come to recover, complained bitterly 
(i6 Confed. Military Reports, 464, October 10, 1864) that the plunder was so 
complete that he could not even get shoes for his horses ; and he adds, that 
"the wholesale pillage of horses and mules, as of goods generally, in the 
vicinity of the army, has made it impossible for one to obtain anything by 
purchase. In fact, in an expedition designed to re-establish the rightful govern- 
ment of Missouri, the Governor of the State cannot even purchase a horse or a 
blanket, while stragglers and camp followers are enriching themselves by plun- 
dering the defenseless families of our own soldiers in the Confederate service." 



THE DEFEAT OF STERLING PRICE. 307 

to have had carte hlanclie for the forming of his army 
and the plan of his campaign. 

As if fortune itself favored the proposed invasion, 
there were but small numbers of Union troops in Mis- 
souri. The department had been depleted to swell the 
armies of Sherman and Thomas. Rosecrans was in 
command, at St. Louis, with Pleasonton second, but 
their men were mostly militia and were scattered in 
small detachments, to hold posts all over the State. If 
concentrated they would have numbered hardly ten 
thousand, but if concentrated their posts would have 
to be abandoned, and that would be followed by great 
loss, expense, and trouble. There were not even two 
thousand men available to defend St. Louis, when that 
city was threatened by Price, until A. J. Smith's divi- 
sion of Sherman's army arrived from Cairo. 

It could not have been difficult for Price to get the 
approval of General Kirby Smith, then commanding 
the Confederate Trans-Mississippi Department. That 
Greneral, with a small force about Shreveport, could 
hold Louisiana and Texas for an indefinite time, while 
the many bands of partisan rangers who scourged 
Arkansas could keep the Union troops in that State 
closely confined to their few fortified positions. 

Accordingly, in July, 1864, Price and his lieutenants 
with great zeal set about the organization of an army. 
Marmaduke, Fagan, and Shelby were to be the three 
division generals, and other noted rebel commanders, 
regular and partisan, were given the brigades. Mar- 
maduke had the two brigades of Generals Clark and 
Freeman, and the two regiments of Colonels Kitchen 
and Wood. Fagan had the four brigades of Cabell, 
Dobbins, Slemmons, and McCray, and the three minor 



3o8 STOR Y OF A CA VALR V REGIMENT. 

commands of Lyle, Rogan, and Anderson. Shelby had 
the two brigades of Shanks and Jackman, the regiment 
of Coleman, and later the brigade of Tyler. The men 
were mostly veterans, who had been taught the lessons 
of war through years of incessant campaigning. 

The force which marched from Arkansas was be- 
lieved by the Union authorities there to be about 
twenty thousand men and eighteen guns, but Colo- 
nel Snead, Chief of Staff to Price, has said it was 
only twelve thousand men and fourteen guns. The 
real numbers probably lie between these reports ; but 
by enlistments and conscriptions, and captures of arms 
and horses in Missouri, the force was much increased 
in numbers and strength. Several Confederate reports 
agree that a large part of their men were unarmed and 
remained so throughout the campaign, but the number 
is not stated, nor even estimated, in any report. It is 
probably true that Tyler's brigade of Shelby's division 
was unarmed, as it was picked up mostly in Missouri 
in the progress of the campaign, and no doubt some 
recruits and conscripts were received in other com- 
mands without arms. But the report of Piice states 
that they captured in the campaign eighteen pieces of 
artillery, three thousand stand of small-arms, and large 
quantities of ordnance stores,^ all of which must have 
been captured before the 20th of October and before 
the decisive fighting began. 

It appears to have been the idea of General Wash- 
burn, then in command at Memphis, that Price ought 
to be met and fought before he could reach Missouri. 
And Grant says, in an official report,'^ that there was no 

' " Southern Hist. Soc. Papers," vol. vii., p. 2og. 

• His general report, dated July 22, 1865 : See 11 Rebellion Record, p. 342. 



THE DEFEA T OF STERLING PRICE. 309 

reason why he could not have been defeated by Gen- 
eral Rosecrans (then commanding at St. Louis) before 
he reached Pilot Knob. If it was possible for Rose- 
crans to collect at St. Louis ten thousand troops from 
outside the State, Grant's criticism is just. Rosecrans' 
activity in preparation was certainly not of a kind to 
add anything material to his means of defense. 

General A. J. Smith was on his way up the Missis- 
sippi with his division of the Sixteenth Corps, about 
five thousand men, under orders to join Sherman at 
Atlanta. At Cairo he was ordered, from Washington, 
to proceed to St. Louis and take charge of field opera- 
tions against Price. Smith arrived at St. Louis about 
the 10th of September, and found his force would 
be less than six thousand five hundred including his 
own division. Rosecrans says that he (Smith) then 
determined not to march one or two. hundred miles 
into Arkansas with a small column of infantry in pur- 
suit of a larger mounted force, but to remain near St. 
Louis, within reach of river and railway, and await 
Price's movements. But if that was the plan, it is 
necessary to explain why Ewing was left to hold Pilot 
Knob with hardly a thousand men against the whole 
rebel army. It ^ is difficult to see why Smith was not 
sent to Pilot Knob when a battle there was found to 
be inevitable. 

In the first days of September about seven thousand 
troops, of whom about nineteen hundred were cav- 
alry, were sent by General Washburn from Memphis 
to Little Rock. Brigadier-General Joseph A. Mower 
was sent in command. The immediate object of this 
movement was, probably, not merely to forestall 
Price's movement, but to protect Little Rock. General 



3IO STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

Steele expected Price to make an attempt upon that 
post, and he had applied to Washburn, at Memphis^ 
for reinforcements. It was easy to see afterward that 
these troops ought to have been sent from Memphis 
to St. Louis direct. General Mower went with his 
infantry by boats, down the Mississippi and up the 
Arkansas, while the cavalry (with the exception of a 
detachment which accompanied the infantry) crossed 
the Mississippi by boats at Memphis, and marched 
across the country. The cavalry comprised the men 
who were best mounted of the two brigades of the 
Second Division of the Cavalry Corps of the District 
of West Tennessee, and was commanded by Colonel 
Winslow of the Fourth Iowa. There were six hundred 
of the First Brigade, under Colonel Karge, and thirteen 
hundred of the Second (Winslow's), under Lieutenant- 
Colonel Duffield of the Third Iowa. The Second 
Brigade was still composed of the Third and Fourth 
Iowa and Tenth Missouri. The Third Iowa was com- 
manded by Major Jones, the Fourth Iowa by Major 
Pierce, and the Tenth Missouri by Major Lusk. 

The Fourth Iowa crossed the river at daybreak, Sep- 
tember 2d, on the steamboat John D. Perry ^ and the 
other regiments on that and other boats the same day. 
The weather was exceedingly hot. It had seemed 
nearly intolerable in the camp on the high land at 
Memphis, but it was worse beyond the river in the 
lowland forests and gloomy swamps of eastern Ar- 
kansas. The first objective point was Clarendon, on 
the White River, about eighty miles west from Mem- 
phis, once a town of some note. Boats were to be 
sent from the Mississippi up to Clarendon, to ferry the 
cavalry over the White. The road lay almost wholly 



THE DEFEAT OF STERLING PRICE. 311 

in swamps, and for long distances the march was 
literally in mire and water. There were many bayous 
to cross, which were either bridged or forded with 
great difficulty ; and it was often necessary for the 
men to work in the water in repairing the roads and 
bridges. The passage of Blackiish Lake, an enlarged 
bayou, was very tedious and dangerous, the only means 
being an old rickety flat-boat, large enough for only 
twenty horses. Seven men and some horses of the 
First Brigade were drowned through the difficulty of 
managing the boat. The St. Francis River was forded 
on Sunday, September 4th, eight miles above Madison ; 
and in the evening of Monday the column reached 
Clarendon. That evening, by a boat from Memphis, 
came the news of the fall of Atlanta. Taken by 
Sherman with the armies of the Mississippi, it was to 
the Fourth Iowa like one of its own victories. The 
new^s flew quickly to every man, and in the roar of 
rejoicing there was little thought of sleep that night. 

The unwholesome air and water in the marsh coun- 
try through which the column had come, with the 
excessive sultriness, caused much severe illness among 
the men, so that at Clarendon, after six days' marching 
and wading and plunging, many were unable to go 
farther. These were put into hospital boats and sent 
to Memphis. The remainder were moved across the 
White River on Tuesday, by the steamboat John D. 
Perry and a little ferry-boat, the Hamilton Belle, and 
at once marched toward Little Rock. Crossing the 
bayou Roc Roy and bivouacking one night at Dead 
Man's Lake, on the 9th the column reached Browns- 
ville, eight or ten miles from Little Rock, and went 
into camp. It was there to await the coming of the 



312 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

infantry and to have the horses shod, a work for which 
time was not allowed at Memphis after the marching 
order was given. 

The infantry arrived, by way of Devall's Bluff, on 
the 12th, but a movement was not begun immediately 
afterward, as was expected, nor until the l7th. The 
cause of this unfortunate delay was not known among 
the soldiers, but they were sure that it was much to 
Price's advantage and their own disadvantage. This 
view was justified before the campaign was a week 
older. Price got well started on his march while the 
Union army remained in camp. Colonel Trumbull, of 
the Ninth Iowa Cavalry, who had been scouting the 
country with his regiment, told Winslow, on or about 
the 15th of September, that Price had crossed the 
Arkansas at Dardanelle, sixty miles above Little Rock, 
and was already far on his way northward, but that 
General Steele, still clinging to the idea that Little 
Rock was to be attacked, would not believe the report. 
Price had, in fact, crossed at Dardanelle, on or about 
the 10th, with the two divisions of Marmaduke and 
Fagan. Shelby's division was already north of the 
White, and was to Join en route. 

On the 17th, however. Price's movement had become 
undeniable, and the army marched in pursuit. The 
impetuous General Mower, chafing under the delay 
at Little Rock, pushed the column Avith all speed ; 
and profanely insisted that the infantry should keep 
up with the cavalry. And, it appearing to be his 
opinion that an infantryman could wade any stream a 
cavalryman could ford, and that it was a mere waste 
of time to build bridges, his march, for a few days, 
almost literally stopped for nothing. By dint of much 



THE DEFEAT OF STERLING PRICE. 313 

swearing at the unhappy footmen, keeping them well 
wetted in the fords, and tramping far into the night, 
lie did make them "keep up," at least once a day, 
during the first week of the march. 

The cavalry marched at dawn of the 18th, moving 
very rapidly to the northeast, crossing the Little Red 
River near Searcy, and then the White at Maguire's 
Ford, a few miles above Batesville (here marching 
northward on the same road by which the Fourth 
Iowa had marched southward in May, 1862), and on 
the 2 2d came to the Black River, not far above its 
mouth, at a place called Elgin's Mill. The infantry 
had marched by another road as far as the Little Red, 
where the cavalry overtook and passed it. The Black 
River at Elgin's Mill is deep, four hundred feet wide, 
and has very soft banks. A bridge was absolutely 
necessary. There was no pontoon equipment at hand, 
and the engineers had considered the construction 
of the bridge a work of difficulty and time. It had 
been expected that the crossing would seriously delay 
the army. The cavalry reached the river early in the 
afternoon, when the infantry and General Mower were 
half a day's march behind. Winslow, with character- 
istic energy and without waiting for instructions, went 
to work. The horses were tied in the woods, and 
every available man was quickly employed. A large 
cotton-gin building and baling-press stood on the other 
side of the river. The large timbers of these struct- 
ures were torn out, and, with others cut in the forest, 
were dragged to the river. The current was slow and 
steady. One end of one of these timbers being 
anchored in the bank, the other end was thrown out 
across the water, with guys attached. Another was 



314 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

strongly lashed to its outer end, and so on until the 
opposite bank was reached. Several of such huge 
poles, thrown over the river and lying upon the water, 
served as string-pieces ; and the work of putting under 
bent supports, and of planking, was easy. Of course 
a report of the situation was sent back to the General, 
with request for instructions, but he was not heard 
from, nor did he arrive until in the night. Before 
sunrise the bridge was finished and the column was 
moving over. All the troops and the guns crossed 
on this bridge without accident before noon of the 
23d. 

The route now lay directly up the Black River, and 
was very difficult, — many swamps, many crossings of 
the Black and its tributaries, always by fording, and 
the fords sometimes deep and treacherous, the roads, 
where not in mire, thickly studded with stumps or 
filled with old corduroy work, in the worst possible 
condition, the forest interminable, the heat intense, 
the drinking-water filthy, the air miasmatic. The 
poor infantrymen were worked very hard in "keeping 
up," but they made the whole march, to Cape Girard- 
eau, over three hundred miles, the same as the cavalry. 
There was much difficulty in getting forage, and for 
several days the horses had very scanty allowance. 
The country was generally so low and swampy that 
there were but few plantations. By the villages of 
Powhatan, Pocahontas, Hog's Eye, and Martinsburg, 
the cavalry at last reached the higher land of the 
Missouri border, and arrived at Poplar Bluffs, still on 
Black River, on Friday the 30th of September. 

This day, in a heavy rain-storm, a party of rebel 
cavalry, numbering about thirty, riding southward, ran 



THE DEFEAT OF STERLING PRICE. 315 

upon the head, of the column. When they recovered 
from their astonishment at finding themselves prison- 
ers, they said that they had been in Price's command, 
but had been permitted to leave and return. They 
had no guards out, because they had no thought of 
meeting Federal troops in that region. They said that 
Price had already taken Pilot Knob, and was moving 
farther northward. 

A stern chase is a long chase. Price had in fact 
reached Pilot Knob on the 26th, and the handful of 
men holding the post under that most gallant com- 
mander, General Thomas Ewing, after a rarely unequal 
contest lasting two days, had been compelled to evacu- 
ate. The rebels had destroyed what property was 
left, had appeared before St. Louis, and were now 
marching upon Jefferson City. 

The defence of Pilot Knob was one of the most 
brilliant deeds of the war. General Ewing had barely 
one thousand men, hastily collected detachments from 
different commands and civilians of that region, but 
two entire divisions of Price's army failed to defeat 
him in a whole day and night of fighting, and he suc- 
cessfully evacuated in the face of the enemy, with all 
his men and movable guns, and marched to RoUa, one 
hundred miles, in four days, fighting incessantly two 
days of that time with Price's third division. For 
courage, coolness, skill, and success, Ewing's conduct 
in the emergencies of Pilot Knob has few parallels. 
In all the fighting he lost two hundred men, while 
Price left on the field more than fifteen hundred killed 
and wounded. 

When the cavalry column reached Greenville, on the 
St. Francis River, about fiftv miles north of the Ar- 



3i6 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

tansas line^ on the 2d day of October, orders were 
received to stop the direct pursuit and to proceed to 
St. Louis by the Mississippi. 

It was a timely relief. Under the circumstances then 
existing there was no probability that Mower's com- 
mand could do effective service in pursuit, even if in 
good condition, and it was in very bad condition. A 
month in the horrible Arkansas swamps in the most 
trying heat of the year, every day a day of exhausting 
toil, struggling through mire and water, stumbling over 
the wretched corduroys, patching the worst parts of 
the roads and dragging the clumsy wagons over them, 
scouring the neighboring country for the little forage it 
contained, drinking the vile water, getting part of the 
time very poor food, and seeing no good come of it all 
• — no wonder the men were worn, weakened, dis- 
couraged, and many ill, nor that the horses and mules 
were in perhaps worse state. October had come and, 
though the days were still warm, the nights were 
growing cold. In the sweltering heat of the past 
month the men had reduced their clothing and blankets 
to the lightest supply possible, and more clothing and 
blankets must be had. 

Giving up for the present all concern about Price, 
the march was eastward, to the river at Cape Girardeau, 
which was reached Wednesday night, the 5th. The 
sick filled the ambulances and wagons, as well as many 
carriages taken from the plantations along the road; 
many of the cavalry whose horses had died or been 
abandoned were afoot ; everybody was more or less 
weary or sick. But when the boats were boarded at 
Cape Girardeau, on the 6th, they found grateful i-est 
and good food ; and the next day the worn soldiers 



THE DEFEAT OF STERLING PRICE. 317 

were in comfortable quarters in Benton Barracks at St. 
Louis. The Foui'th Iowa had nearly the same quarters 
it had there in February, 1862. 

The cavalry was kept two or three days in the bar- 
racks, getting horses and clothing, and taking rest, the 
infantry being meantime sent on transports up the Mis- 
souri River. On the 11th the cavalry left Benton 
Barracks and marched westward, by Washington, tow- 
ard Jefferson City, which latter place Price .had 
undertaken to besiege. At Washington Lieutenant- 
Colonel Benteen, of the Tenth Missouri, joined, and 
was placed in command of the brigade. He had been 
sent by General Washburn from Memphis for that 
purpose, at Winslow's request, having been absent on 
" Veteran " furlough when the command left Memphis. 
Colonel Noble, of the Third Iowa, and Lieutenant- 
Colonel Peters, of the Fourth, had both been detained 
at Memphis on special duty. 

Price's force was by this time increased, by recruits 
among the Secessionists and by conscripts, to some 
twenty thousand ; and he had taken horses enough to 
keep them well mounted. To meet him there was a 
force of about eleven thousand infantry and artillery 
under Generals A. J. Smith and Mower and about six 
thousand five hundred cavalry immediately under 
General Pleasanton. In the west, however, Curtis and 
Blunt were coming forward with Kansas militia. 

Pleasonton's command was a provisional cavalry 
division, composed of the three brigades of Sanborn, 
Brown, and McNeil. Winslow's command was formally 
added at Independence on the 22d as a single brigade. 
The brigades of Sanborn, Brown, and McNeil were 
Missouri cavalry, organized for home service. There 



3i8 STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

were no guns witli Winslow's brigade, but there were 
eight with the Missouri cavalry. 

Winslow's brigade marched rapidly up the south 
side of the Missouri River, independently of other 
troops. Indeed, Smith's infantry and the Missouri 
cavalry were already at and beyond Jefferson City, 
Price having abandoned his attempt upon that place 
and marched to the west. 

On this march the Fourth Iowa had occasion to deal 
with Union troops who refused to serve, the only 
instance of the kind known to the regiment during 
the war. A regiment or a brigade (it is not now 
remembered which) of Missouri infantry, encamped 
near Washington, had refused to go aboard the boats 
there waiting to carry them up the Missouri to fight 
Price. They said that the time for which they had 
enlisted was about to expire, and that if they should 
go upon this campaign they might not be released when 
their time was up. Their officers could not manage 
them, and the commander applied to Colonel Winslow 
for aid. The Fourth Iowa was sent. On approaching 
the camp, the regiment was deployed into line around 
three sides of it, the river being on the fourth, and 
closed in. The Missourians were then seen in their 
open camp, their arms stacked and themselves idly 
waiting events. Seeing themselves surrounded they 
became excited, and their officers again tried to persuade 
them to obey. The cavalry steadily closed in upon 
them, but did nothing else. Presently one company 
fell in and took arms, and the cavalry halted. Other 
companies followed the example, and soon all marched 
sullenly aboard the boats. Whether there was any 
more trouble from them the cavalry never heard. 



THE DEFEAT OF STERLING PRICE. 319 

Winslow's brigade continued its march, moving from 
daybreak till late at night every day. At Sedalia on 
the 20th it overtook and passed the infantry under 
Smith. This was the last seen of any infantry in the 
campaign. Smith tried one or two days more to reach 
the enemy ; but the victory of the cavalry at the Big 
Blue on the 23d rendered any further efforts of the 
infantry unnecessary, and it was returned to St. Louis. 
On the same day Pleasonton ordered the cavalry to 
hasten forward to Independence ; and the brigade 
reached that place on Saturday the 22d, after having 
marched three hundred miles in twelve days. Pleas- 
onton was already there with the three brigades of 
Missouri cavalry. He immediately directed Winslow 
to take his brigade out to support Brown's brigade, 
which was then in the western border of the town, 
engaged with the enemy and using artillery. Earlier 
in the day Blunt, with a division of Kansas mounted 
militia, had had a severe engagement with the enemy 
at Independence, and had taken two of his guns and a 
number of prisoners. 

The regiment had never been under Pleasonton 
before. The arrival of this brigade of veteran soldiers 
had been awaited with anxious impatience by him, it 
being his purpose to give vigorous battle as soon as it 
should come. Price's divisions had been fouo^ht several 
times, in minor and indecisive engagements, but had not 
been brought to a stand. On the 21st Curtis, coming 
from Kansas, had undertaken to stop him at Little Blue 
River, but had been beaten and driven back beyond 
the Big Blue near Kansas City. 

Winslow moved his brigade at once through the 
town, and came upon General Brown. He was near 



320 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

his guns, which were firing on the enemy's position 
about a mile away. His regiments were dismounted 
and in line, half a mile in front of the guns and quite 
as far from the rebel line, doing nothing. It was 
growing dark. Brown ordered Winslow to move his 
brigade forward and relieve his (Brown's) men, saying 
that they were out of ammunition. 

The brigade took the front at once. The Third 
Iowa was dismounted, the Fourth was held in its rear 
in the road, mounted and in column of fours, while a 
detachment of the Tenth Missouri was sent to the left, 
with orders to find the enemy's right, and by rapid 
firing and vigorous shouting give signal for a general 
attack. Very quickly the ball opened, and the men of 
the Third rushed upon the enemy's line. It was 
partly concealed in a strip of woods along a small 
stream. It proved to be an advanced line. It was 
driven back quickly and with spirit upon its support. 
Following up this success vigorously, the Third Iowa 
compelled the whole rebel force to fall back and took 
possession of the field. The enemy here were prob- 
ably only one division, the others having followed 
Curtis and Blunt toward Kansas City. It was now 
after dark, but Winslow pressed the command steadily 
forward until, at ten o'clock, the enemy had been 
driven across the Big Blue. This was at Byram's 
Ford, about ten miles southwest of Independence and 
nine south of Kansas City. 

The Third Iowa should have great credit for this 
bold and soldierly achievement. The Fourth Iowa 
and Tenth Missouri were kept close up, ready to be 
used in a minute, if required ; but the Third did the 
fighting alone and in close range. When the bank of" 



THE DEFEAT OF STERLING PRICE. 321 

the river was reached the brigade rested upon its 
arms. While awaiting the oi'der to attack, the Fourth 
Iowa, mounted and occupying the road, was for some 
time under fire. The enemy firing from higher ground, 
their balls flew over the men of the Third Iowa in 
front, and caused a good deal of involuntary dodging, 
and some pointed comments in the Fourth. Major 
Pierce dismounted the regiment for better protection. 
A few men and horses were struck, but none seriously 
hurt. Private John Koolbeck, of F, orderly to Colo- 
nel Winslow, was severely wounded in the left arm. 

It was a watchful night. At dawn Sunday morning, 
the 23d, AVinslow was moving to reopen the battle, when 
he received an order directing that Brown's brigade take 
the front and begin. Brown marched his men in col- 
umn upon the ground, and he and Winslow were in 
consultation, when Pleasonton rode up and ordered 
Brown under arrest. Colonel Phillips was next in 
rank in Browfa's brigade, and succeeded to the com- 
mand ; but Pleasonton directed Winslow to take both 
brigades and " conduct the fighting in front." 

Winslow accordingly ordered Phillips to dismount 
one regiment, and move it at once to the river bank. 
At the same time he dismounted a part of his own 
brigade in support, while the Third Battalion of the 
Fourth Iowa, under Captain Dee, which had been 
watching during the night, was concentrated and sent 
to the right, with orders to wade the stream and effect 
a lodgment on the other bank. Before those disposi- 
tions were completed the enemy opened, from the 
bushes and felled trees on the opposite side of the 
river and from a higher position farther back, a hot 
fire of small-arms and artillery. The enemy here must 



21 



322 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

have been the divisions of Fagan and Marmaduke, the 
battle with Curtis at Westport, a few miles to the 
north, the same morning, having been fought by Shel- 
by's division alone. 

On our side of the stream were abrupt hills one 
hundred feet high. The only road to the ford de- 
scended by a long slope along the rocky face of one of 
these hills, against which the bullets were incessantly pat- 
tering. The stream was two hundred yards in front and 
south of this hill. The dismounted Missouri cavalry 
cautiously approached the brow of the hill and rushed 
down the road to the river. Then Captain Dee, with 
the Third Battalion of the Fourth Iowa, approach- 
ing by a deep wooded ravine on the right of the road, 
dashed into the stream, among the rocks and fallen 
trees, and after some exciting exposure, reached the 
other bank and held the ground. At this moment 
Phillips' Missouri regiment, near the river, stopped 
and threw themselves upon the ground. They had 
lost a few men, and found the rebel fire too severe. 
Winslow rode down the hill to the water, and again 
ordered them to charge across, upon the first rebel line 
on the other side, calling their attention to the success 
of Captain Dee and his men, who were already on the 
other side. 

The Missouri men then made another effort, and 
got over. The rebels immediately fell back upon 
their second line, on the higher ground. The remain- 
der of the Fourth was at the same time crossing the 
river at the ford, dismounted. The moment all were 
over, both the regiments were quickly moved in line 
across the open level fields bordering the river, to the 
foot of the position now occupied by the enemy. 




so 

=1= 



tfO 



:t= 



ZOO 



300 rAROi 



BATTLE OF THE BIQ BLUE, 
OCT. 23, 1864. 



a. Battery planted by Pleasanton. 
6. Dee's Battalion of Fourth Iowa, ad- 
vancing to the attack. 

c. Dee's Battalion, position after crossing. 

d. Phillips' Missouri regiment, first posi- 

tion. 

e. Phillips' Missouri regiment, second 

position. 



/. Phillips' Missouri brigade, position be- 
fore final assault. 

g. Fourth Iowa (ist and 2d battalions), 
position before final assault. 
ft, t. Third Iowa and Tenth Missouri, posi- 
tion before final assault. 

k. The advanced line of the rebels. 

/. Main line of the rebels. 



THE DEFEAT OF STERLING PRICE. 323 

This position was on a plateau covered thinly with 
small oaks, descending to the fields just mentioned by 
a precipitous ledge of rocks fifteen feet high, running 
parallel with the river about eight hundred yards, and 
broken only by a few narrow rifts or gorges. Six 
hundred yards back of the precipitous ledge were 
fields, and beyond these fields west and south were 
large woods. 

Winslow directed this movement in person, and at 
the same time ordered the mounted men of both 
brigades left on the north side of the river, to cross 
and be ready for action, watering their horses as they 
came over ; and a staff-ofiicer was sent to Pleasonton 
to request that a battery be placed on the bluffs on 
the north side, to open fire over our men upon the 
enemy's position. From the bluffs mentioned, the 
main rebel line could be seen, formed in the edge of 
the woods beyond the plateau already mentioned, the 
division of Marmaduke, supported by that of Fagan. 

While these dispositions were being made, heavy' 
:firing was heard on the right in the direction of West- 
port, a small town a few miles south of Kansas City. 
Curtis and Blunt, with a large force, chiefly of Kansas 
militia, were engaged there with Price's left. Upon 
the approach of Price to Kansas, the population of 
that patriotic State took arras almost en masse, and 
hastened to the border to defend their State against 
invasion. Major-General Curtis, being then in com- 
mand of the Department of Kansas and Indian Terri- 
tory, directed these troops, with Major-General James 
G. Blunt second in command. 

All being ready, Winslow ordered Phillips' brigade, 
which had been dismounted and on the left of the 



324 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

road, to rush up the slope and across the plateau, in a 
charge upon the enemy's right, \vith the object of turn- 
ing it. His own brigade was held in position on the 
right of the road, ready to follow up this movement. 
The men of Phillips' brigade, bravely led by their 
officers, attempted to charge, but when on the plateau; 
and exposed to the rebel fire, they broke and fell back, 
and took shelter behind the bank of the river. Lieu- 
tenant Hodge of Winslow's staff gallantly attended 
this unsuccessful charge, and tried to rally the men, 
Winslow then ordered the Fourth Iowa to charge 
from its place on the right of the road and the Third 
to follow fifty yards behind, while the Tenth Missouri 
was directed to support these regiments, and Phillips' 
men to join in the general charge the moment the 
Fourth Iowa passed into full view. 

The movement was instantly successful. The Fourth 
Iowa scrambled through the gorges and clambered up 
the rocks, re-formed hastily at the top, and dashed 
across the plateau with their biggest yell. They had 
learned that the best and safest- charge is the quickest 
and boldest one. When they got near enough they 
added the ring of their Spencers to their charging cry; 
and Winslow had the satisfaction of seeing the enemy 
break and his own men disappear in the woods, closely 
following up their advantage. The crack of their car- 
bines steadily decreasing in sharpness showed that the 
rebels were beaten. While directing this charge, and 
when half-way across the plateau, Winslow was severely 
wounded in the left leg by a rifle-ball. He had his boot 
pulled off, and, finding that no bones were broken, threw 
the leg over the pommel of his saddle and kept the field,, 
pressing forward zealously the work so well begun. 



THE DEFEAT OF STERLING PRICE. 325 

His fine bay horse, " Bill," well known in the regi- 
ment, was wounded in the leg at the same time. He 
was led with the command to the Arkansas River and 
back to St. Louis, but only to be burned, with many 
other animals, on the steamboat Maria on the way 
from St. Louis to Louisville. 

Winslow ordered forward the mounted part of his 
command, to pass the dismounted men and pursue the 
flying rebels. General Pleasonton, who came upon the 
ground at this time, approved of these movements, 
and sent forward also Sanborn's brigade, now united 
and across the river. But when Sanborn reached the 
front the enemy had been driven by Winslow's bri- 
gade through the woods, a mile in width, to the open 
prairie beyond. 

While the battle was in progress, the Kansas troops, 
under Curtis and Blunt, had been fio-htino; near West- 
port a varying battle with the rebel left wing under 
•Shelby, but had now won, and were driving Shelby.^ 
But the victory of Winslow's brigade at the river 
compelled Price to concentrate his forces, and turned 
his march into a retreat. From that time he bent all 
his energies upon an escape from the State with as 
much of his army and imateriel as he could save. He 
at once turned to the south, and, directing Shelby to 
join him without delay, marched for Arkansas at ex- 
traordinary speed. At about one o'clock the same 
day, in order to cover his retreat and to protect his 
left, he caused a stand to be made against the advance 
of Sanborn's brigade, which had entered the prairie 

' A writer in " Battles and Leaders of the Civil War," volume iv., page 377, 
treats these two battles as one. He says the "fighting extended over five or six 
miles in area, and at some points was furious. At times as many as forty or 
fifty guns were throwing shot and shell, grape and canister." 



326 SrORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

and taken the front, under orders to relieve Winslow's 
brigade. Sanborn came upon Shelby's own brigade^ 
posted for the purpose mentioned, and immediately 
made a charge upon it ; but his regiments were 
roughly handled by the enemy, driven back, and 
scattered. 

Winslow's brigade having been relieved and directed 
to feed the horses, was turned into a cornfield by the 
road. The bridles were taken off, and the men were 
husking and feeding the corn. Lieutenant-Colonel 
Benteen, of the Tenth Missouri, was then in command 
of the brigade. Colonel Winslow being in the hands 
of the surgeon. 

The noise of Sanborn's battle was heard, then his 
men were seen falling back, and then the rebels 
appeared in a heavy line behind them, about half a 
mile in front of the cornfield. The country was 
prairie, with intervals of cornfields and wild grass. 
The rebels were on higher ground, the approach to 
them up a long, gentle slope. When they observed 
another body of their enemies they halted, and turned 
one or more of their guns upon the cornfield where 
the horses were feeding. There was bridling and 
mounting in hot haste, the rail fences were thrown 
down, and almost as quickly as it can be told the bri- 
gade was ready for action. Colonel Benteen in the 
finest spirit, at once ordered an advance. Forward! 
rang from a score of bugles ; he rushed the brigade 
into column of companies, his own regiment in front, 
and led in a gallop directly at the enemy's line. The 
rebels turned all their artillery upon the column, but 
the fire was too high, and no time was allowed for 
depressing the guns. Within a minute or two, artil- 



THE DEFEAT OF STERLING PRICE. 327 

leiy would be of no use. They saw it, and poured in 
their small-arms with desperate speed. The air was 
black with smoke, the earth trembled with the rush of 
that solid column of a thousand horses. There was no 
sound from the men but the hoarse screaming of the 
bugles. Not a shot was fired, not a shout heard. 
They rode as one man, steadily, with fixed faces, with- 
out check or waver, sweeping upon their enemy like 
fate. An officer on General Bluut's staff, Captain Roe, 
who witnessed this charge from a distance, has, with a 
soldier's zeal, declared it the finest scene he ever saw. 
Within two minutes the head of the column was 
within short range. Benteen ordered, On the left into 
lins! and the bugles sounded. Charge! The enemy 
stood no longer, but broke and fled in the utmost pre- 
cipitation. The brigade pursued four miles, until the 
rebels gained the cover of a range of low wooded 
bluffs behind a rocky creek, near Little Santa Fe. 

The enemy's loss was reported at fifty killed and 
wounded and about one hundred captured. The only 
loss in Benteen's brigade was in the Tenth Missouri, 
one man killed and one wounded. 

General Curtis now appeared, with Blunt and the 
Kansas troops. Being superior in rank to Pleasonton, 
he took command of the united forces. He ordered 
the troops into bivouac, and did not renew the pursuit 
until nearly noon the next day. 

Winslow, having had his wound dressed, was put in 
an ambulance which followed the army until dark, 
when he reported to Curtis and Pleasonton. They 
congratulated him upon the brilliant victory, and said 
there was no expectation of again overtaking and 
bringing Price to a stand. Pleasonton then directed 



328 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



him to go to St. Louis for the purpose of attention to 
his wound and to his general health, which had been 
poor for some time. Upon his reaching St. Louis, 
General Rosecrans gave him a month's leave of 
absence. 

Meantime the enemy had had fifteen or twenty 
hours in which to get ahead, and he improved the 
time. The country was all open prairie, without 
fences; and Price, to move the faster and keep his 
men well in hand, marched in four columns side by 
side. A wide smooth swath was made in the prairie 
grass by the tread of his many thousand horses, 

Curtis' column started at about eleven o'clock of the 
24th, the Kansas troops in front. The line of march 
lay nearly south, along the State line between Missouri 
and Kansas. The rebels fired the prairie to impede 
the pursuit, but as they had themselves in marching 
beaten the grass flat, the fire would not burn enough 
for the purpose. The pursuit was very rapid until 
midnight, and then slower, the enemy being felt as the 
Osage River (here and above called the Marais des 
Cygnes) was approached at the Trading-Post. At 
about two o'clock in the morning, at the end of a con- 
tinuous march of over sixty miles, the men were 
halted and allowed to lie down ; but it was very dark, 
no fires could be lighted, the rain began to fall, and it 
was very uncomfortable. Shortly before daybreak the 
order to mount was quietly given. Winslow's (now 
Benteen's) brigade was moved out a little in advance 
of the place of halting, and formed in line of battle 
across the road and through cornfields on either side 
of it. It was raining steadily and the darkness was 
dense. Orders were given in low tones, and the line 



THE DEFEAT OF STERLING PRICE. 329 

moved slowly forward. Nothing was seen, nothing 
was heard but the rustling of the wet corn as it was 
brushed aside or broken down by the horses. Sud- 
denly a line of flashes burst across the front, and there 
was a rattle of small-arms which seemed very near. 
But the flashes were surprisingly high in the air, and 
no balls were heard to whistle. Again and again a 
line of fire high in front, but no z-z-zi'p! of bullets. 
It was amazing. The Fourth Iowa, on the right, was 
dismounted and moved forward, up until apparently 
almost under the fire. Slowly came the dull light of 
a rainy morning. The enemy's position was at last 
made out. It was on a steep and rocky ridge, perhaps 
two hundred feet high, extending across the front, a 
very unexpected object to the men who for days had 
seen only the level stretches and gentle swells of a 
great prairie. Firing from this high and abrupt ridge 
the enemy's balls had gone so far above the heads of 
the Union men that they had not even been heard. 
The rebels had occupied the ridge to cover their cross- 
ing of the Marais des Cygnes, a work in which they 
had been engaged all night at a point about a mile 
farther south. 

As soon as the position was seen, the Fourth Iowa 
was ordered to take it. Its line was then in the corn- 
field, near its border at the foot of the ridge. In a 
minute the men were over the fence and clambering 
up the hill. The rebels, seeing them coming, kept up 
their fire with much spirit, but there was good shelter 
for the assailants behind rocks, trees, and stumps, and 
the balls still flew too high. Before the line reached 
the top the enemy ceased firing and disappeared. The 
first men of the Fourth to get up, excited by success, 



330 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

and without waiting for orders, ran across the narrow 
plateau which then appeared, but only to see the enemy's 
lear line enter a wood at the foot of the hill on the south 
side. It was Price's rear-guard and the last of his 
regiments on the north side of the Marais des Cygnes. 
The Third Iowa and Tenth Missouri were hurried 
forward mounted, moving by the road around the east- 
ern extremity of the ridge. They could not reach the 
ford in time to cut off any large part of the retreating 
column, but they took about a hundred prisoners and 
a number of wagons loaded with provisions on the 
north bank of the river, while by firing across they 
compelled the rebels to abandon two field guns which 
they were trying to haul up the muddy bank on the 
south side. 

In the movement upon this ridge an incident oc- 
curred which became popular in the newspapers as 
one of the little stories of the war. When the crest of 
the ridge wks reached from which the rebels had just 
been driven, Lieutenant Sloan Keck and the writer 
were near each other, moving forward with the line of 
the regiment. The ground was covered with deep 
grass, and there were scattered trees and rocks. Sud- 
denly a little cry was heard quite near at hand, like the 
cry of a child. In a moment it was repeated, and then^ 
looking about, we found, lying in the grass close under 
a rock, a little girl, hardly more than six years old, 
with blue eyes and light hair, and very pretty, bare- 
headed, and in a " homespun " dress. She had a school- 
book in her hand, but " the cat had her tongue." She 
hung her head and was mute to all questions. It was 
hardly full daylight yet ; she must have been there all 
night. It was a long distance from the road we had 



di 



THE DEFEAT OF STERLING PRICE. 331 

last seen, there was no house in sight, and the only- 
human beings near were the men who had just been 
fighting with guns across the spot where she was 
lying. Yet she did not appear to be much scared. 
She admitted, with a nod, that she could go home if 
fihe were in the road, but a man was sent with her to 
see her cared for at the nearest inhabited house. 
Afterward, on descending the hill, a school-house was 
seen, and it was supposed that the child had been 
there the day before when the rebel army appeared, 
and that, in trying to avoid the soldiers on her way 
home, she had undertaken to cross the hill and had lost 
herself, falling asleep when night came on. 

The enemy had broken uj) the road through the 
ford, and it was only very slowly that our column 
could cross ; but it was done at last, Benteen's brigade 
being the last over. On the other side the brigades 
were quickly formed and pushed on. The rain had 
ceased, the clouds had cleared away, the sun was shin- 
ing brilliantly, and the air was delightfully bracing. 
The march was rapid, in column of companies, and the 
talk was that Price would be overtaken and compelled 
to fight before many hours. Nine miles from the 
crossing of the Marais des Cygnes and three south of 
the present town of Pleasanton, he was found drawn 
up in line of battle. This line was formed in front 
of Mine Creek, a tributary of the Osage, the im- 
mediate purpose being to cover the passage of 
Price's train across the marshy valley of that stream 
and to check the pursuing forces.^ As has been, 
learned since, there were here two divisions of the 
rebels. Pagan's on the right and Marmaduke's on the 
left. The third division, Shelby's, had crossed Mine 

' This battle is often called Osage, sometimes Mine Creek, but the name 

Marais des CvQties is used by hotli sides. 



332 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

Creek and gone on in charge of the train. The line 
was well formed, in two ranks, with a projecting angle 
near the middle and a battery planted at the apex of 
the angle and on each wing. It ran across our road, 
along the foot of a low ridge or swell of the prairie, 
which concealed it from the view of our column while 
it was forming. The ground was entirely open and 
covered with prairie grass. Our column came on at a 
trot. It was making up the time lost at the ford. It 
overtook Phillips' brigade of the Missouri cavalry, and 
marched abreast of it on its left, the road separating 
the two brigades. As soon as the heads of the brigades 
appeared, the enemy opened their batteries. Phillips' 
brigade fell back, and was more hurt by the artillery 
than it would have been if it had not done so. The 
other brigades and Curtis' Kansas troops were yet 
miles away, and did not get near enough to take any 
part in the battle. Ben teen's brigade was moving by 
company front, the Tenth Missouri in advance, the 
Fourth Iowa second, the Third Iowa third, and the 
small remaining contingents of" the Fourth Missouri 
and Seventh Indiana (Karge's Memphis brigade) in 
the rear. Colonel Benteen at once ordered it into 
column of regiments, each regiment front into line, and 
then ordered a charge. 

Immediately the whole brigade was at the top of the 
slope, and the two opposing forces were in full sight of 
each other and within short range. In view of the 
numbers engaged the spectacle is probably without a 
parallel in the war. The rebel force was much the 
greater. Allowing for Shelby's absence and the 
losses of recent marching and fighting, there must 
have been seven or eight thousand on that field. 




BATTLE OF THE MARAIS DES CYQNES (OR " OSAQE," OR " MINE CREEK "), 

OCT. 25, 1864. 



a, a. Road (then) from Trading Post to Fort 

Scott. 
3, ^, Present road. 

c. Widow Regan's house. 
J, Jones' house. 
e, McAuley house (then). 
/, " " (now). 

^,;f, Pagan's Division. 
/i, ky Marmaduke's Division, 
r, /, i. Two, four, and two guns. 

i, Benteen's (Winslow's) Brigade. 



1. Tenth Missouri. 

2. Fourth Iowa. 

3. Third Iowa. 

4. Seventh Indiana and Fourth 

Missouri, detachments. 
/, Phillips' Brigade. 
«, «, Second position of the enemy. 
e, o. Second position of Benteen's Brigade. 
/,/, Third position of the enemy, on one 
of the large " mounds" peculiar to 
the country. 



THE DEFEAT OF STERLING PRICE. 333 

They were the two divisions of Marmaduke and 
Fagan, directed by Marmaduke. Price had gone on 
with Shelby, to arrange for the capture of Fort Scott, 
a considerable town then only twenty miles ahead, 
leaving orders with Marmaduke to hold the crossing 
of Mine Creek. These two divisions must have num- 
bered eight or nine thousand when they entered Mis- 
souri. They no doubt lost in the fighting on the Blue 
rivers, but they had also received many recruits in 
Missouri, no doubt many more than their actual losses 
up to this time. The seven or eight thousand here 
credited to them are much more likely below their real 
number on this field than above it. Benteen's brigade 
had in column about eleven hundred. It was certainly 
within one hundred of that number, greater or less. It 
is true that Phillips' brigade (about fifteen hundred) 
was near enough to support Benteen's, if it would, but 
the rebels had just seen it fall back ; and, in fact until 
the rebels were actually defeated and broken, Benteen's 
brigade was the only force fighting. 

Colonel Benteen's order to charge was instantly 
obeyed. The Tenth Missouri started forward with 
their " yell " and their bugles sounding, but when they 
had covered half the distance, the enemy showing no 
sign of breaking, they hesitated and stopped. Their 
colonel urged them with great spirit, and they made 
spasmodic efforts to brace up, but failed. There was 
immediate alarm and danger that the whole brigade 
would be thrown into confusion. The enemy opened 
fire with small-arms from their horses all along their 
lines. Again and again Benteen ordered the charge, 
and many of his regiment made brave efforts to over- 
come the singular balk. Some got forward a little 



334 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

farther, but the line could not be moved. He persisted 
most heroically in trying to break tbe unfortunate 
situation. He rode directly in front of his men, 
within pistol-shot of his enemy, hatless, white with 
passion, waving hiis sword and shouting the order to 
charge. His trumpeters repeated it, and all the trum- 
pets in the column answered with the same piercing 
notes. Then, for a few moments, the two opposing 
lines of men simply stood, glaring at each other. 

The situation was one of great advantage to the 
enemy, if seized with spirit. He ought to have charged 
at once and fiercely. He did make the attempt. As 
his orders were heard and his lines began to advance, 
with their charging " yell," it was a desperate position 
for our brigade. But there was a man in the Fourth 
Iowa equal to the occasion. Major Pierce, commanding 
the regiment and then in his place on its right, seeing 
he could not in line get through the confused line of 
the Tenth Missouri stretched along his front, with 
great courage and promptness resolved upon an extraor- 
dinary step. He left the right and galloped to the 
left of the regiment, which projected beyond the left of 
the line of the Tenth Missouri, perhaps as much as the 
length of two companies, which were therefore imme- 
diately in front of the enemy's right. He instantly 
ordered a charge of his own regiment, and led it himself 
in a dash at the enemy's right. 

There is nothing like that movement taught in mill- 
tary science, but the Major had the good fortune to 
give the order just when the minds of his men were 
ready for it. They could all see plainly that the case 
was desperate, that something must be done in a 
moment. The companies nearest the Major (A on the 



THE DEFEAT OF STERLING PRICE. 335 

extreme left and K next) responded instantly, and 
having a clear front, were the first to reach the enemy. 
The other companies had to force their way between 
the men of the Tenth Missouri, and were a little later. 
Indeed the most of the Tenth, encouraged by the spirit 
of the Fourth, Joined in the charge. Pierce and the 
men nearest him struck the enemy's line like a thunder- 
bolt, and broke it wholly away at that point.^ The 
other companies struck it in succession from left to 
right, and it all fell away like a row of bricks.^ The 
Third Iowa, led by Major Jones, instantly followed 
the example of the Fourth, struck the enemy near 
his centre, where it had some stubborn fighting and 
suffered severely, but gained a brilliant success. The 
rebels were so confused and at so short range that they 
could not well use the muzzle-loading guns with which 
the most of them were armed, but they kept some of 
their artillery firing till the gunners were shot or cap- 
tured. Phillips' brigade, seeing the success, joined in 
the battle, and the rebel line was routed along its 
entire length in a few minutes. There was no bridge 
and the ford was immediately choked by the crowds 
who tried to use it, and then each regiment plunged 
into the stream at the point nearest it and scrambled 
across. Yet not all were so ready to flee. Some com- 
mands led by braver officers, or many dauntless 

' It is said that the Major and his adjutant, Lieutenant Sloan Keck, actually 
put hors du cotnbat with their sabres in this crash, the former nine and the latter 
six of the enemy. 

'^ A Confederate officer who was on staff duty in Pagan's division has told the 
writer since the war that it was Freeman's brigade that first broke, that they 
were " Missouri men," and that no other brigade in the army would have 
broken in their position. But a biographer of Shelby, who served with him in 
the campaign, says that Freeman was in Shelby's command, and Shelby's 
division was not in this battle. See " Shelby and his Men," by Edwards, 
page 359. 



2^6 STOR Y OF A CA VALR V REGIMENT. 

individuals, remained on the field and fought desper- 
ately hand to hand until killed or wounded or com- 
pelled to surrender. In that bend of the creek, not 
many acres in extent, within a few minutes, three hun- 
dred of the rebels were killed or wounded and nine 
hundred captured. The artillerymen seemed the most 
obstinate among the rebels, perhaps because they 
realized how small was their chance of getting their 
guns over the creek. In the battery at the middle 
angle of the line they fought at their posts against 
overwhelming odds until all their guns were lost, one 
of these guns being taken by a squad of F of the 
Fourth Iowa, led by Sergeant Lough ridge, only after 
every man upon it was struck down. Marmaduke was 
captured trying courageously to hold his division 
together, and Cabell and Slemmons, the ablest of 
Fagan's brigadiers, who would not leave the field while 
any of their men remained. Five colonels and many 
lesser officers were also captured. 

Some of the enemy who had passed the creek before 
the fighting began had been held in line between the 
creek and the Jones house. Using these as a centre 
Fagan tried to form upon them those who had crossed 
after the rout. He placed this line behind a small miry 
brook which crossed the road at right angles half a 
mile south of the creek. Benteen was already crossing 
his advance, there was not time for careful dispositions, 
and the demoralization of the defeat was still in his 
men. Benteen had hardly dismounted his line (be- 
cause the ground was marshy and covered with thickets) 
and begun to move forward when Fagan's line broke. 
Perhaps he ordered it to retire. At any rate he moved 
it at once and rapidly to a hill about a mile south of 



THE DEFEA T OF STERLING PRICE. 337 

the creek and half a mile west of the Fort Scott road, 
which here curved to the east and upon which Price 
was marching some miles ahead with Shelby's division 
and the train. This hill was one of the " mounds " 
peculiar to that region. It was about two hundred 
feet high, quite bare of trees, of rather abrupt slopes to 
the north, east, and west, and descending toward the 
south very gradually, so as to disappear in the plain 
within a couple of miles. In a remarkably short time 
Fagan had collected and re-formed here the remainder 
of his and Marmaduke's divisions. But he had no 
guns, the half of his own division was captured or 
scattered, all the generals upon whom he had relied 
were gone, and the help he had looked for from Shelby 
did not come. Pleasonton led the dismounted men of 
Benteen's brigade up the road as far as the McAuley 
house. Just opposite Fagan's position on the hill, and 
sent back to hurry up Phillips' and Sanborn's brigades. 
Not to lose any time, however, Benteen's men were 
formed along the road, in line parallel with the hill, 
and advanced toward it, with the view to attack as 
soon as support should appear. The enemy fired upon 
the line with small-arms at long range. Excited by 
this, or misunderstanding orders, the line kept advan- 
cing, as if to make a charge upon the hill. The first of 
the guns which Pleasonton had got over the creek was 
now opened upon the enemy's position. Then their 
lines showed signs of breaking. The first of the Mis- 
souri brigades appeared on the road, and Benteen was 
ordered to charge, but before his men were half-way 
up the slope Fagan's lines had broken and his dis- 
ordered troops were all galloping off toward the Fort 

Scott road. 
22 



338 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

When Benteen's brigade had first appeared before 
their lines Marmadiike and Fagan sent a message to 
Price, in front of his train some miles ahead, that they 
were about to be attacked by three thousand of the 
enemy. Price says he was then preparing with Shelby 
for an attack upon Fort Scott, that he at once ordered 
Shelby to go to the rear with his (Shelby's) old brigade, 
and himself went back at a gallop, but that on the way 
he " met the divisions of Fagan and Marmaduke re- 
treating in utter and indescribable confusion, deaf to 
all entreaties and command, and in vain all efforts to 
rally them." ^ 

The Missouri brigades, being already mounted, fol- 
lowed them by the road. The dismounted Benteen's 
brigade was permitted to rest until the horses came up 
and the scattered men were brought together in orderly 
form. The loss of the brigade in all the fighting was 
ten killed and nearly fifty wounded. In the Fourth 
Iowa one was killed (Lieutenant Hira W. Curtiss of F) 
and six were wounded.^ But the enemy lost, in addi- 
tion to the twelve hundred men and officers already 
mentioned, three battle-flags and seven guns. Of the 
guns the Fourth Iowa took five, of the flags two, and 
of the prisoners two hundred and forty. One of these 
two flags, taken by Sergeant George W. Miller, of H, 
was that of the Fourth Missouri, a famous Confederate 
cavalry regiment. It may still be seen in the State 
arsenal at Des Moines.^ Men of the Third Iowa cap- 
tured the rebel generals Marmaduke (afterward Gov- 
ernor of Missouri) and Cabell. 

' Price's report, in Southern Historical Society's Papers, vol. vii., p. 209. 
" See Appendix : " Engagements and Casualties." 

* Sergeant Miller had the honor of being sent, in December, as a special 
messenger with this flag to the Adjutant-General of Iowa. 



THE DEFEAT OF STERLING PRICE. 339 

Phillips and Sanborn pursued the rebels to the 
crossing of the Little Osage, near old Fort Lincoln, but 
there Shelby had posted a brigade to cover the passage 
of the train. Pleasonton sent back to hurry up Ben- 
teen's brigade, but Price, having got his train well 
ahead, withdrew from the river and formed the whole 
of Shelby's division on Chariot or Marmiton Prairie, a 
few miles beyond it. Fagan was sent on with all the 
other troops, with orders to push the train over the 
Marmiton River, below Fort Scott, and make all speed 
for the shelter of the Ozark hills in Missouri. 

Benteen's regiments came up to the Little Osage at 
a trot and there passed the Missouri brigades. Their 
losses of the morning, especially in horses, had thinned 
their numbers, and the remaining men and horses were 
greatly worn. They had marched a hundred miles 
within little more than a day, with little or no sleep, 
and had been fighting substantially all the morning. 
When the head of the column came into Chariot 
Prairie, there was Shelby's line in full view. Almost 
immediately some one gave an order to charge — a mis- 
take, because the distance between the forces was at that 
moment too great, especially so in view of the condition 
of the horses. It was a full half mile or more. The bri- 
gade was formed into column of regiments, however, the 
Tenth Missouri in front, the Fourth Iowa second, and 
galloped directly at the rebel centre. The men probably 
expected an easy success over the weakened divisions 
they had defeated a few hours before. They did not 
know that they were to meet the famous fighting Shelby 
and a division not yet engaged. Shelby opened his 
guns on the charging column, and, when it was nearer, 
a spirited fire from small-arms. Only a few men were 



340 STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

struck, but the horses were doing badly, all of them 
slow and many half-exhausted, and the line was in 
very bad order. It had been impracticable to keep 
the Jaded animals in line in so long a run, and there 
were practically no lines at all. The fire of the enemy 
added to this disorder so disconcerted the men that 
they hesitated and finally stopped when within only a 
few hundred yards of the enemy. The officers in- 
stantly set about re-forming their lines on the spot, but 
Major Pierce conceived the idea of moving his own 
regiment obliquely to the right, to give it a clear field, 
and did so at once, leading it thus in an independent 
charge against Shelby's left. The rebels broke there 
before they were struck, but their centre and right 
held on. The Fourth Iowa was then alone on Shelby's 
left flank, no other troops having followed it. The 
other regiments had remained in front of Shelby's 
centre, only falling back a little. Shelby, seeing the 
advantage, ordered an advance toward the front. The 
unfortunate men of Benteen's regiments heard the- 
order sounded along the line, and saw the line begin 
to move upon them. Pierce, seeing that his movement 
was not supported, fell back to the position of the 
brigade, many of the men being wounded in the re- 
treat, himself among the number. At this critical mo- 
ment two howitzers, which Pleasonton had galloped up 
to support the charge, were opened upon the rebels. 
This checked them, and the fire being continued Shelby 
withdrew from the field, probably also because he saw 
more troops coming up behind the howitzers. 

The Missouri brigades, led by Pleasonton, followed 
to the Marmiton, where they had a little fighting with 
Shelby's rear; but Price had got his train and the 



THE DEFEAT OF STERLING PRICE. 341 

remnants of liis demoralized regiments over and night 
had come on. Benteen's men were left to rest, with 
leave to move into Fort Scott, now only a few miles, at 
leisure. It was twilight then, and no one cared to move 
another step. There was no food there in the wild 
prairie, but even the eight miles to Fort Scott were too 
much to do then. The exhausted soldiers dropped 
upon the frosty grass to sleep, holding their horses by 
the bridles. 

The simple and brief story of a fine soldier of the 
regiment, who took part, in the ranks, in this campaign, 
is very eloquent : " Not many times during the war 
was such a call made upon the powers of men and 
horses as was made upon our brigade during these two 
days. The distance marched was one hundred and 
eight miles. We had but two feeds for our horses, 
and only twice were we able to make coffee. And 
when the second day's work ended, we lay down in the 
open prairie, horses tied to wrists, without food, with- 
out fire, cold, hungry, and very tired, after fighting 
almost continually from dawn till dark." 

In this last engagement of the day the Fourth Iowa 
had none killed and only five were wounded, of whom 
one was Major Pierce, commanding the regiment. He 
received a very painful shot in the foot, from which he 
never entirely recovered. There was no loss in the 
other regiments of the brigade. 

The next morning the brigade, very greatly fatigued, 
moved slowly on to Fort Scott, and remained there 
resting that day. General Blunt, with his Kansas 
troops, took the advance ; but Price's retreat had now 
become a desperate flight. After his defeat on the 
25th he never stopped marching till he reached Car- 



342 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

thage, Mo., over sixty miles. To hasten his march 
he destroyed nearly all his wagons and artillery ammu- 
nition, abandoned or killed his unserviceable animals, 
permitted his dismounted men to scatter and save 
themselves as best they could, paroled his prisoners, 
and devoted his whole attention to his getting away.^ 
Blunt overtook him at Newtonia, beyond Carthage, 
where he had a fierce battle with Shelby. With the 
aid of Sanborn, however, who came up while the battle 
was still on. Blunt drove the whole of Price's remain- 
ing column in the utmost haste toward Arkansas.^ 
After resting overnight, Benteen's brigade pushed on 
to join in the pursuit, but the enemy was not again 
overtaken ; and there was no more fighting. 

It was the end of October. The line of march was 
down the Ozark range, from Newtonia, by Grranby 
and Cassville, to Pea Ridge, and thence through the 
Boston Mountains of northwest Arkansas into Indian 
Territory. Major Pierce's wound proved to be so 
severe that he could not keep the saddle, but had to 
turn back at Cross-Hollows. So the command of the 
regiment fell upon Captain Dee. The weather became 
very cold, snow fell often, and ice formed every night. 
There were no rations left for the men, except sugar 
and a scant allowance of coffee ; and but little forage 
was found for the horses. A few poor cattle were 
picked up here and there and killed foi" beef, a little 
flour and corn-meal and quantities of apples were 
found, but rarely was there food enough. On the 1st 
of November the commissaries could get nothing but 

' Price says he went to Carthage " for forage." See his report before cited. 
' This was the last engagement of the war, of any moment, west of the 
Mississippi. 



BA TTLES OF CA VALR V ONL V. 343 

some flour and corn-meal. They divided that, one 
pint of each to each man, and no more food was issued 
till the 11th. Of necessity every man became an inde- 
pendent forager. But the country was very poor. 
The southwest corner of Missouri and the adjacent 
parts of Arkansas and Indian Territory are moun- 
tainous and rough. The tillable land is very scanty. 
Little valleys along the mountain streams and irregu- 
lar little corners between the hills were then occupied 
by meagre fields. The houses were small log-cabins, 
isolated, with wide tracts of rocky hills between ; but 
the people had mostly fled or concealed themselves on 
the approach of troops. The hungry soldiers searched 
every house, taking up the floor, prying through the 
loft, sometimes finding a little meal or a piece of pork, 
or hurried about the small fields in the hope of glean- 
ing a few ears of corn. There was but scanty reward 
for themselves and less for their horses. In the even- 
ing of the 2d there was a severe storm of rain and snow 
with high winds. No one could sleep or keep diy. 
On the 3d it snowed all day, and grew very cold 
at night. On the 5th, Cane Hill, Arkansas, was passed 
and the " Cherokee Nation " (the Indian Territory) 
entered. No more white settlements were seen. The 
weather continued stormy, snowing or raining most of 
the days and freezing every night. When Webers' 
Falls was reached, on the Arkansas Kiver, near Tahle- 
quah, the Indian capital, on the Tth, Price's remnant of 
troops had crossed. 

It was utterly impossible to follow farther. The 
pursuing cavalry was in a wilderness, in snow and ice, 
without food or forage, and, as the march was begun 
in mild weather, without sufficient clothing. The 



344 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

horses were worn out, and many of the men were 
ah'eady on foot. The suffering soldiers lay down that 
night on the bank of the river, wet, cold, hungry, and 
exceedingly weary. Another snow fell in the night, 
and was everywhere deep in the morning. The horses 
could not get even the dry standing grass they had 
been eating the day before. The men had no bread or 
meat, and coffee and sugar were now measured like 
gold. 

It was the 8th day of November, and the day of the 
Presidential election. A vote was called for. In spite 
of their hardships, and of the certainty of further suf- 
fering before food or comfort could be had, the men 
promptly responded. The Fourth Iowa Veterans were 
unanimous for " Lincoln and the vigorous prosecution 
of the War." ^ 

The poor remainder of Price's rebels were permitted 
to go their further way unmolested. Some remained 
in the Indian Territory, finding they were not pursued ; 
others halted on the Arkansas border ; while a faithful 
few held on with Price, who " never stopped till he 
reached Laynesport, in Arkansas, on the Louisiana 
border, where he remained with a small command, 
inactive, till the end of the war. 

Winslow's brigade had already been ordered to 
Nashville, to join the army of General Thomas, then 
about to engage in the great contest with Hood. When 
the vote was completed that morning, it set out for 
St. Louis. The distance was about five hundred miles, 
only one fifth of which, at the eastern end, could 
be covered by rail. The long march was made by 
new roads where practicable, in the hope of finding 

' The cry of the War party in the political campaign of that year. 



BATTLES OF CAVALRY ONLY. 345 

food for men and horses. For seven days together 
the men were without any bread, and five days 
together the horses had no food except the coarse 
grass they could pick where it was high enough to 
stand above the snow. On the 9th a small quantity 
of corn was found for the horses, and on the 11th 
there was a good supply. On the 14th, at Prairie 
Grove, in Arkansas, the column was met by a train 
sent to its relief from Fort Scott, carrying bread and 
coffee, and the same evening a flock of sheep, which by 
some means had escaped both armies, fell into the 
hands of the starving men. At last they were no 
longer hungry. They fared badly enough during the 
week following, but had at least coffee and bread. 
After a march of extraordinary toil and suffering, from 
over-fatigue, the severe cold, insufficient clothing, and 
the bad condition of the horses, the brigade reached 
Kolla on the 27th. There were delays in getting cars, 
and the men were not all in St. Louis until the 30th. 
There the brigade was quartered at once in Benton 
Barracks, the Fourth Iowa in nearly the same build- 
ings it had occupied in February, 1862. 

The value of this campaign hardly needs to be stated. 
The disastrous defeats of the enemy in the last week 
of October tell the story ; and the ruin of his political 
scheme was even more hopeless. Price's twenty thou- 
sand had melted to nearly nothing.^ He had no army 
worth mentioning after that, nor does he again appear 
in the record of the war in any affair of consequence. 
No campaign was attempted by the rebels west of the 

^ Rosecrans says that "on rebel authority Price lost 18,000 to 19,000 men" 
in this campaign. A division staff-officer of Price's army has assured the 
writer that they crossed the Arkansas River " a mere handful of men, with 
two guns." 



346 STOR Y OF A CA VALR V REGIMENT. 

Mississippi after his overthrow. Our cavalry had 
achieved a series of brilliant victories, and was full of 
confidence and spirit for future campaigns. It had 
fought five battles in rapid succession, without rest 
in the intervals, and with unbroken success. And it 
had lost in men only twenty-two killed and mortally 
wounded and ninety-three otherwise wounded. The 
number of horses lost is not known, but it must have 
been nearly as great as the number with which the 
campaign was begun. At least a thousand, perhaps 
two thousand, were taken from the enemy. 

But the marches and hardships were as striking as 
the battles. Within about twelve weeks Winslow's 
brigade had marched nearly two thousand miles, the 
first weeks in most oppressing heat, and the last four in 
snow and ice, many days being bitterly cold.^ The 
last three weeks of the time the men had but scanty 
rations, one week almost none, there being two days 
literally without food. Many of the horses had been 
broken down and abandoned, and on the return march 
their owners had to walk. Of course in a campaign 
so long and active army clothing would go to pieces. 
Many of the men had not enough left to keep them 
warm. On the ice and frozen ground their cheap 
army boots gave out, and a large number of them were 
not only dismounted but nearly barefoot. Many were 
hatless, all were ragged and shivering. All the remain- 
ing horses were greatly jaded, many permanently 
injured, and none were able to move with speed. At 
the end of the march there were not one hundred 

' Diaries written at the time show that, of the twenty-seven days marched in 
November, on twenty-five there was snow or ice and frozen ground, and that at 
least one day (when it happened that a thermometer was seen) the temperature 
was at zero. 



BATTLES OF CAVALRY ONLY. 347 

horses in the whole brigade able to carry their owners. 
From Tahlequah to Rolla, four hundred miles, in 
bitter weather, without shelter, without sufficient food, 
that shabby and weary column painfully dragged itself 
along. Twenty days and nights it took, though every 
man burned with desire to reach the end. Whether 
friend or enemy, who could have looked upon those 
poor fellows without a swelling heart ? 

But it was not only the soldiers who thought well 
of this campaign. General Pleasonton issued the fol- 
lowing orders : 

Headquarters Cavalry Division, 
Fort Scott, Kansas, Oct. 26, 1864. 
General Orders ) 

No. 6. j 

The Major-General commanding this division composed 
of troops from the Department of the Missouri and Wins- 
low's brigade o£ cavalry, congratulates the officers and men 
upon the brilliant success which has crowned their untiring 
efforts in this decisive campaign. 

The battles of Independence, Big Blue and of the Osage 
River have resulted in the capture of Major-General Marma- 
duke, Brigadier-General Cabell, four colonels and nearly 
1,000 prisoners, including a large number of field-officers, 
several thousand stand of arms, the destruction of a large 
portion of the enemy's train and the routing of their army. 
The gallant action of Phillips' brigade of Missouri cavalry 
and Winslow's brigade in capturing eight of the enemy's 
guns on the Osage was so distinguished as to draw praise 
from the enemy. 

The night fighting of Colonel Winslow on the Big Blue 
deserves the highest commendation. 

By command of Major-General PLEASONTON, 

Clifford Thompson, 
A. A. A. G. 



348 STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

Headquarters Cavalry Division, 
Warrensburg, Missouri, Nov. 3, 1864. 

General Orders ) 
No. II. S 

Winslow's brigade of cavalry being about to leave for 
another department, the Major-General commanding takes 
this occasion, not only to express his regrets at separating 
from such glorious troops, but also to recall more especially 
than was done in General Orders No. 6 from these Head- 
quarters, the splendid manner in which this brigade fought 
at the Osage, capturing five pieces of artillery from the 
enemy, with a large number of prisoners, and carrying by a 
daring charge the most conspicuous and important position 
on that brilliant field. 

By command of Major-General Pleasonton, 

Clifford Thompson, 
A. A. A. G. 

And General Rosecrans, commanding the depart- 
ment, issued a long congratulatory order, reciting the 
circumstances and steps of the campaign, a part of 
which is here given : 

Headquarters Department of the Missouri, 
St. Louis, Mo., December 8, 1864. 

General Orders ) 
No. 220. f 

I. The reports of the commanders of troops in the late 
campaign against Price furnish a record so brilliant, of ardu- 
ous service and gallant fighting, that the Commanding 
General deems it a duty to express to the officers and men 
of his command his admiration of their behavior, and to 
congratulate them and their fellow-citizens upon the results. 

• ••■■••• 

VI. On the 8th of October, when General Pleasonton 
assumed command at Jefferson City, he sent General San- 



BATTLES OF CAVALRY ONLY. 349 

born, with all his mounted force, to follow the rebel track 
and harass them until our remaining cavalry could join and 
the infantry supports come up. . . . Pursuing their retreat 
westward and keeping them between you and the Missouri 
River, you waited the arrival of Winslow's command, 1,500 
strong, which had followed the enemy from Arkansas, and 
when, on the 19th it joined, forming the Provisional Cavalry 
Division of 6,500 men under Gen. Pleasonton, you moved 
on the foe, overtook and gave them the first taste of your 
sabres on the 22d at Independence, where you routed Fagan 
and captured two of his guns. On the 23d you passed the 
Big Blue and fought them from seven in the morning till 
one, routing their main force and throwing them beyond 
Little Santa Fe. On the 24th, at midnight, after marching 
some sixty miles, with little water and less food for men or 
horses, you again overtook them at the Marais des Cygnes, 
routed them with loss ; and thence you pursued them to the 
Little Osage Crossing (Mine Creek) where two advanced 
brigades, under Benteen and Phillips, charged two rebel 
divisions, routed them, captured eight pieces of artillery 
and near one thousand prisoners, including Generals Marma- 
duke and Cabell. Sanborn's brigade again led in pursuit, 
overtook them and made two more brilliant charges,' driving 
everything before it across the Marmiton, whence the enemy 
fled, under cover of the night toward the Arkansas. . . . 

VIL The substantial results of this brilliant series of 
operations are, that the enemy having entered the State 
with a mounted force of veteran troops estimated at from 
15,000 to 26,000 and eighteen pieces of artillery, with vast 
expectations of revolutionizing the State, destroying Kansas 
and operating on the Presidential election, after having 

' This is an error. It was Benteen's (Winslow's) brigade that "led in pur- 
suit," overtook and again charged the enemy, and again drove them from the 
field over the Marmiton ; if Sanborn's brigade was there, it was left in the rear 
as described on page 326. It was Blunt, with his Kansas cavalry, who directly 
pursued from the Marmiton to Newtonia, and there fought and won a battle 
before Sanborn came up. See Rosecrans' official report, Moore's "Rebellion 
Record," vol. xi., p. 510, in which this claim is not made. 



350 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

added to his force 6,000 Missourians, has been defeated in 
all his schemes, his mischief confined to the narrow belt of 
country over which he passed ; and, routed by you in four 
engagements, he has lost ten pieces of artillery, a large 
number of small arms, nearly all his trains and plunder, and 
besides his killed, wounded and deserters, 1,958 prisoners 
whom we have now in possession, the enemy's forces at 
their recrossing the Arkansas being reduced by demoraliza- 
tion, desertion and losses, to less than 5,000, but partially 
armed and mounted, with three pieces of artillery. All this 
has been accomplished by less than 7,000 cavalry,' most of 
whom never before saw a great battle ; and your entire 
loss in killed, wounded and missing, is only 346 officers 
and men. 

The records of this war furnish no more brilliant or de- 
cisive results. 

VI I I. To Maj.-Gen. Pleasonton and his officers and sol- 
diers of the Provisional Cavalry Division, by whom this 
work was wrought, the General Commanding tenders his 
thanks for their gallantry and efficiency in the campaign, 
and congratulates them on having acquired the true spirit of 
cavalry service. 

IX. A department order will announce the regiments 
entitled and the names of the engagements they are to 
inscribe on their banners. 

By command of Maj.-Gen. ROSECRANS, 

Frank Eno, A. A. G. 

lu his account of the campaign ^ Rosecrans somewhat 
modifies some of the numbers in this order. By that 

' This ignores the Kansas troops, under Blunt and Curtis, who numbered as 
many more, and whose separate fighting at Independence, Westport, and New- 
tonia, certainly did much toward the success of the campaign. 

* Rosecrans' Campaigns, in the " Report of the Committee on the Conduct of 
War for 1865," vol. iii., pp. 55 and 117. See also his official report of opera- 
tion in " Rebellion Record," vol. xi., p. 510. 



BA TTLES OF CA VALR Y ONL Y. 35 1 

report it appears that Price's troops were "variously 
estimated at from 15,000 to 26,000, reinforced by 
6,000 armed recruits from Missouri," that ''on rebel 
authority Price lost 18,000 to 19,000 men in his great 
raid, as well as 10 pieces of artillery, 2 stand of colors, 
1,958 prisoners, and a large number of horses, mules, 
wagons, ambulances," and that the Union loss was 681 
officers and men, of whom 174 were killed, 336 wounded, 
and 171 missing. 

The "estimate" of Price's forces is certainly too 
high. From all reports and accounts it cannot be 
believed that his army when he entered Missouri 
exceeded 14,000 men and 16 guns. Colonel Snead, 
of Price's staff, has said^ that Price had only 12,000 
men and 14 guns at that time. And he says that only 
8,000 of the men were armed ; but in the many Con- 
federate reports and accounts which have been pre- 
served the unarmed men are never mentioned in any 
number more ' than one brigade. In fact, after many 
unarmed recruits were added in Missouri, all the un- 
armed men were formed into a single brigade, which 
was commanded by a Colonel Charles H. Tyler ; and 
the Confederate brigade was comparatively small, 
usually numbering only ten or twelve hundred, rarely 
as many as two thousand. In Price's report, however, 
it appears that he captured small-arms at the different 
towns and posts occupied by his troops en route in 
Missouri, to an aggregate of three thousand, as well as 
some field guns.^ But he collected recruits in Missouri, 



' " Battles and Leaders of the Civil War," vol. iv., p. 375. 

' Price says he took i8 pieces of artillery, but i6 were those left in the works 
at Pilot Knob by Ewing, which were probably too heavy or too much damaged 
to be of use to Price. Southern Hist Soc. Papers, vol. vii., p. 209. 



352 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

both volunteers and conscripts/ at least six thousand,, 
some of whom probably were unarmed. On the whole, 
it is reasonable to believe that when he reached the 
Little Blue, where the attacks upon him began, he 
had 20,000 men, of whom 2,000 were unarmed, and 
16 guns. But his organization, or the hold of his 
inferior officers upon their men, must have been loose ; 
for his army melted away like snow under the sun 
when once it was defeated. More than half his men 
must have deserted on the march after the battle at 
the Big Blue; and when he crossed the Arkansas, 
within two weeks after the Big Blue, he had 2 guns 
and less than 5,000 men. 

' Colonel R. J. Hinton's " Invasion of Missouri and Kansas in 1864." 



CHAPTER IX. 



BETWEEN CAMPAIGNS THE WINTER OF 1864-1865 

EXPIRATION OF THE THREE YEARs' ENLISTMENT 

ANOTHER RAID THROUGH MISSISSIPPI, IN HOOd's 

REAR PREPARING FOR THE LAST CAMPAIGN 

SOLDIER LIFE AND DEVELOPMENT 



There was a week of rest at St. Louis for the men 
of Winslow's brigade, who had returned from the 
Price campaign. They could not be moved to Nash- 
ville at once, for lack of means. The unprecedented 
ice in the river had brought great confusion and 
danger into the problem of transportation. Movement 
by steamboats was greatly delayed ; and the conse- 
quent excessive over-burdening of the few Illinois rail- 
ways made it impossible to transport troops promptly. 
But the ill-fortune of the War Department in the bad 
weather was the good-fortune of the poor troopers. 
Nearly all of them were exhausted, nervous and ill, the 
effects of the prolonged campaign and its extraordinary 
hardships. Now they had good quarters in Benton 
Barracks, and nothing at all to do for eight days. 

The first day of that period, however, was not rest- 
ful. It was marked by an incident unique in the 
history of the Fourth Iowa — the " Bread Riot." Com- 
ing into a post so old and well organized as Benton 
Barracks, the men naturally assumed that they would 
23 353 



354 



STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



immediately receive their proper rations. But the 
commandant, Colonel Bonneville, was an old officer of 
the regular army and a martinet. The cavalry was 
not all reported till late on the 30th, and he thought 
it was not yet properly within his command, and 
therefore not yet entitled to be supplied from the post 
commissariat. But, being quartered in the post, of 
course any commander or commissary outside would 
simply have referred any requisitions for rations back 
to Colonel Bonneville. The Colonel could not be 
satisfied that night. The men only knew, however, 
that they wanted food, and that there was " red-tape " 
in the way. They grumbled bitterly and justly, con- 
vinced that they needed and deserved full rations at 
once. Early in the morning, without waiting for the 
commandant to be clothed with the particular addi- 
tional authority he deemed necessary, parties of the 
discontented slipped away from their quarters, bent 
upon finding food. They came upon the commis- 
sary's buildings and a large bakery where bread was 
made for the fortunate troops whom Colonel Bonne- 
ville acknowledged to be within his command. That 
was too much for them. They demanded bread of the 
bakers. The bakers naturally refused to issue it in 
that way, and prudently closed the doors and win- 
dows. The rioters laughed at that, went through the 
doors and windows without unfastening them, and 
carried off a large quantity of bread. But they took 
it to their quarters and shared it with their comrades, 
a generosity which led to the punishment of some 
of them. 

When the commandant was informed he at once 
ordered the marauders under arrest, and sent a lieu- 



BETWEEN CAMPAIGNS. 355 

tenant of infantry with twenty men to take them. 
Their comrades were in full sympathy with them, 
indeed they were now accessories after the fact, as 
lawyers say. They closed the doors of their barracks 
and said 023probrious things to the helpless lieutenant 
from the windows. After a time of heated discussion, 
however, the company officers deemed it their duty to 
open the doors and permit a search for any men who 
might have the bread in their possession. But the bread 
was now well distributed, and while the lieutenant and 
his guard were peering about the bunks they suffered 
a fusillade of loaves and pieces of bread fired from 
other directions, though, when their officers remon- 
strated, all the men stoutly denied having thrown 
any. This experience, together with his failure to 
make any arrest, spoiled the lieutenant's temper and 
threw the waspish colonel into a great rage. He 
immediately put one or two regiments of infantry 
tinder arms, and ordered them to take the rioters in 
the Fourth Iowa, even if to do so it was necessary 
to take the whole regiment. His wrath was directed 
especially against that regiment, because it had hap- 
pened that his lieutenant's search and attempt at 
arrest had begun and ended in its quarters. This wild 
order was near causing a bloody and wholly unneces- 
sary conflict. With amazement and hot indignation 
the Fourth Iowa men saw the infantry drawn up in 
front of their quarters. The innocent not only sympa- 
thized with the guilty, but deemed themselves now 
greatly wronged. Nearly all the men, filled with 
passion, seized their arms and cartridges, and rushed 
upon the parade ground in front of the infantry. A 
mistaken order, a false step, would have been the 



356 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

signal for a terrible scene. The officers of tlie regi- 
ment, whose position was most difficult, because they 
knew their duty and yet sympathized with their men, 
exerted themselves to the utmost to restore order. 
By orders and threats, remonstrances and promises,, 
they at last induced the men to be quiet until a con- 
ference was had with the commandant. Captain 
Abraham, then in command of the regiment, and other 
officers with him, told Colonel Bonneville plainly 
that they could not surrender any men under the 
order because they deemed it disgraceful, but that 
they would prefer to be arrested and cashiered them- 
selves. The colonel, who was sobered on seeing the 
storm he had raised, finally agreed to leave the matter 
to the usual methods of arrest and court-martial, stipu- 
lating, however, — martinet to the last ! — that the " in- 
surgents " should retire to their quarters as they had 
been ordered to do, before the infantry was withdrawn. 
This last the men flatly refused to do, and the affair 
looked dark again, until an infantryman in the line, 
whose fellow-feeling may have sprung from experience, 
cried " Bully for the cavalry ! " Instantly the cry was 
repeated by many of the infantry, so many that their 
officers either would not or could not stop it. It put 
the cavalrymen into good humor, and with cheers for 
the infantry they went back to their barracks. The 
infantry marched off, the trouble was over ; and soon 
after full rations were issued. 

Upon investigation, some of the men boldly admit- 
ted that they had been in the plundering party, and 
others were arrested upon evidence. A court-martial 
was convened, and, after a trial lasting several days, 
eight men were convicted and sentenced to terms of 



THE WINTER OF 1 864-1 865. 357 

imprisonment in the Jefferson City penitentiary. Three 
of the eight were Fourth Iowa men. 

Gradually the ice was so far opened as that on the 
9th of December the men and horses of the brigade 
were sent aboard the steamboats at St. Louis. 

The Fourth Iowa was embarked on the St. Pai/t'ich, 
the horses being placed on barges lashed to the boat. 
But it was a very difficult and tedious passage, and 
while the brigade was struggling with the ice in the 
rivers, Thomas was fighting the great battles with 
Hood in which it was to have had a hand. Several 
days were spent in getting to Cairo, and several more 
lost there. 

Meantime Greneral Dana, assuming that Thomas 
could now spare the brigade, had renewed his efforts 
to have it returned to Memphis, but both Sherman 
and Thomas had specially ordered it to Nashville, and 
Upton was determined to have it in his new division 
in Wilson's corps. He visited the brigade on the boats 
at Cairo, as if it were already his, and every one who 
met him felt the influence of his zealous spirit and 
shared his desire. His persistence with the authorities 
carried the day, and the brigade went on to Louisville. 
In the very cold night of the 2 2d of December, and in 
a deep snow, the regiments were landed at Portland, 
just below Louisville. A march of several miles was 
made to and through the city, ending at a grove south 
of it, where a bivouac was made in the snow. The next 
day a camp was established near Fort McPherson and 
the Nashville railway, and there the brigade stayed 
nearly two months. The other brigade of Upton's 
division was also encamped there, and the place was 
called " Camp Upton," in compliment to the general. 



358 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

That part of the brigade which had remained at 
Memphis had not been permitted to lie quietly in 
camp while their comrades were chasing Price. The 
number left in camp when the Price campaign was 
begun had been increased by men sent back, sick, 
wounded, and dismounted, until now in each of the 
three regiments there were as many at Memphis as at 
Louisville. Parties of rebel cavalry, both regular and 
guerilla, were constantly moving through those parts 
of Mississippi and Tennessee near Memphis, and up to 
the time of Hood's defeat they were very bold. It 
was even supposed at times that there was danger 
of an attack upon Memphis. There was seldom more 
than a small force available for its defence ; and all 
the cavalry was kept actively at work upon recon- 
noitring, scouting, patrolling, and expeditionary duty 
in all parts of the region mentioned. Nearly every 
day from early in September till January found some or 
all of the duty men of the Fourth Iowa and the other 
cavalry regiments on the road, scouting or on more 
important expeditions. Sometimes these marches occu- 
pied four or five days, and mounted rebels were met 
and shots exchanged. A favorite and frequent prac- 
tice of the guerilla parties was to lie in ambush and 
fire upon the smaller parties of Union soldiers, the mis- 
creants instantly running away and scattering through 
the forests, where they were at home. 

The most important movement from Memphis during 
this period was one made in December, through central 
and eastern Mississippi to Vicksburg. General Dana, 
then in command at Memphis, had orders to send a 
cavalry force to break up the Mississippi railroads 
again, for the purpose of cutting off communication 



THE WINTER OF 1 864-1 865. 359 

between Hood's army in Tennessee and the south and 
southwest. He accordingly directed Colonel Winslow 
to organize the men of his division then at Memphis 
into two brigades for the proposed movement, and 
Colonel Osband's brigade of colored cavalry was added 
to the force. Winslow objected to his own regiments 
going upon such an expedition, and referred to his 
orders from General Thomas to take them to Nash- 
ville. He was then impatiently awaiting the return 
of the men who had been in the Price campaign, ex- 
pecting thereupon to Join the two parts of the brigade 
and move to Nashville. It was finally agreed that the 
matter should be referred to General Halleck at Wash- 
ington, whereupon Winslow and an ofiicer of General 
Dana's staff went to Cairo, and each telegraphed from 
there direct to Halleck, stating the facts and asking 
for instructions. Halleck replied by telegraph, sus- 
pending the order of General Thomas for the time, 
and directing that Winslow take orders from General 
Dana, but adding that the delay in reuniting the com- 
mand should be made as short as possible, and that 
the Memphis portion should go to Louisville imme- 
diately after the present movement. 

Dana proposed to place Winslow in command, but 
General Grierson was then at Memphis, superior in 
rank, and Winslow was unwilling to take the com- 
mand unless it were first offered to Grierson, but 
offered to go in command of a brigade. In a confer- 
ence between the three, it was so arranged. Eight 
hundred men from the Third and Fourth Iowa and 
Tenth Missouri regiments had horses able to march. 
The only full company in the Fourth Iowa was C, 
which, being on special duty with the provost-marshal 



36o STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

at Memphis, had not gone on the Price campaign. The 
three regiments composed the Second Brigade of the 
Cavalry Division of the Department of the Mississippi. 
There was a First Brigade, under Colonel Karge, num- 
bering about fifteen hundred more ; so that, adding 
Osband's colored men, Grierson's column contained 
about three thousand five hundred. The Fourth Iowa 
was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Peters, with 
Major Woods second. No artillery was taken, nor 
any wagons, a fortunate omission, since any heavy 
wheels would probably have been lost in the bottom- 
less mire such as was encountered many days. Twenty 
days' light rations were carried on pack-mules. 

The column left Memphis the 21st of December, 
marched east along the Memphis & Charleston rail- 
way, thence south by Ripley, to Tupelo, Okolona, and 
Egypt, on the Mobile <fe Ohio road, thence by Houston 
and Bellefontaine to Winona, Vaiden, and West Sta- 
tion on the Mississippi Central, and thence by Lexing- 
ton and Benton to Yicksburg, arriving there on the 
5th of January. The main line of march was four 
hundred and fifty miles, but all of the command 
marched many miles more, large detachments being 
sent out to make demonstrations upon different places, 
and to capture and destroy property. These detach- 
ments were kept very busy. The Mobile &> Ohio road 
was broken up in many places, from Guntown to 
Egypt, and the Mississippi Central from Grenada to 
Vaiden. The Third Iowa, under Colonel Noble, went 
alone from Winona to Grenada, and destroyed at the 
latter place large machine-shops and much other prop- 
erty which the rebels had constructed and accumulated 
there since the visit of destruction made by that regi- 



THE WINTER OF 1864-1865. 361 

ment in August, 1863. Captain Beckwith, witli one 
hundred and twenty men of the Fourth Iowa, went 
south, by way of Greensboro, to Bankston, beyond the 
Big Black River, and destroyed large factories engaged 
there in making cloth and shoes for the rebel armies, 
with quantities of goods and materials. 

There was more or less skirmishing every day, but 
there was no delay for fighting except at Egypt. The 
enemy had collected about twelve hundred men at 
that place, with four guns, and had constructed some 
defenses. General Gholson was in command. General 
Grierson attacked with a part of his force (not includ- 
ing Winslow's brigade) and after an hour's fighting. 
General Gholson being killed, the rebels broke and 
fled, leaving nearly five hundred in Grierson's hands. 
Many of Gholson's men had, however, refused to fight. 
The prisoners were mostly from one regiment, who 
declared that they had not fired a gun, and that they 
had intended to be captured. These men were chiefly 
" Galvanized Yankees." ^ While the engagement was 
in progress two trains approached from the south with 
reinforcements. Grierson intercepted and attacked 
them. The first train w^as immediately abandoned, 
captured, and destroyed ; the second escaped. 

Colonel Osband's Colored men, destroying the railroad 
below Winona, met a detachment of Wirt Adams' 
cavalry, and had a brisk fight, in which the rebels 
were reported to have lost fifty killed and wounded. 

The weather and the roads were nearly all the time 

' A colloquial description of men who had been captured or had deserted 
from the Union armies and who took arms with the rebels to escape prisons. 
Of course they had no heart in the cause, and they had learned that, as the 
Confederate authorities would not trust such men on the great outer lines, they 
were likely to have easier and safer service in the interior. 



362 STOJ?V OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

indescribably bad. Either rain or snow fell many- 
days, and there was hard freezing many nights. The 
roads were almost continually in deep mud, often 
under ice or frozen crust, and often covered with 
water for long distances. Artillery or loaded wagons 
could not have been taken through. 

The loss in Grierson's command was one hundred and 
twenty killed and wounded and seven missing. That 
of the enemy was about two hundred killed and 
wounded and six hundred prisoners, with five thousand 
stand of arms, four thousand being new English car- 
bines on their way for Forrest's men. About eight 
hundred horses and mules and one thousand negroes 
were taken into Vicksburg. The property destroyed 
was many miles of railroad and telegraph, many 
bridges and railway trestles, fourteen locomotives, 
ninety-five cars, over three hundred army wagons, 
thirty warehouses filled with army stores, cloth and 
shoe factories employing five hundred hands, five 
hundred bales of cotton, tanneries, machine-shops, 
corn and hogs in large quantity. Of the wagons cap- 
tured, about two hundred had been taken by Forrest 
from Sturgis at the battle of Brice's Cross-roads in the 
preceding June. 

The campaign was entirely successful and of great 
advantage to the cause. Grierson had his usual good- 
fortune in evading or misleading the enemy, so as to 
avoid conflict with any large force. The command 
returned from Vicksburg by boats, but Winslow's 
brigade was not delayed at Memphis. It was per- 
mitted to proceed immediately, by the rivers, to Louis- 
ville, the camps and the men left at Memphis having 
been already moved. 



THE WINTER OF 1 864-1 865. z^Z 

Among the minor exjDeditions from Memphis in this 
period the one most serious in results was that of the 
14th of December, under Captain Huff. A detail of 
forty-six men from A and B of the Fourth Iowa was 
placed under that officer, with orders to patrol the 
roads toward Colliersville. He had no special instruc- 
tions, but he was familiar with the service and with 
the country through which he was to go, and he 
knew that there were general instructions to officers 
sent upon that service, requiring the exercise of the 
greatest care. Near White's Station, about six miles 
east from Memphis, he had an engagement under 
anusual circumstances, and suffered a disastrous defeat. 
He was moving eastward, toward White's, at a walk, 
with enclosed fields on his right. His advance-guard 
had not yet reported any rebels seen. Across the 
fields to his right, about half a mile away, he observed 
a body of horsemen moving in the same direction in 
which he was inoving. He knew there was a road 
there which converged with his own road and joined 
with it a mile or two ahead, and he knew that about 
balf-way to this junction there was an open place, 
without fences, where horses could easily pass fi"om 
one road to the other. There were some hundreds of 
bhe unknown men — Captain Huff says four hundred. 
Many or all of them wore blue coats, which circum- 
stance, together with their moving eastward, as if from 
Memphis, led the Captain to suppose that they were 
Union cavalry on a scouting expedition. He took no 
means to verify this supposition, and both columns 
moved on toward the junction of the roads. 

Huff's advance-guard (a corporal and four men) had 
Just reached the top of a small hill when they were 



364 STOR Y OF A CA VALE Y REGIMENT. 

observed to fire a few shots and disappear down tlie 
road on the other side. Huff hastily assumed that 
there were rebels in front, and he hurried his men 
forward at a run. The stranger troops did the same, 
but when they reached the open space they rode across 
it at great speed, toward the Iowa men. Huff says 
he thought they meant to get his road and reach the 
scene of the firing before him. Instead of turning up 
the road, however, upon this idea, they wheeled to the 
left, poured a volley into the Fourth Iowa, and charged. 
Huff tried bravely to get his little command into posi- 
tion for defense, and did return the fire and kept the 
rebels off for a few moments ; but they were too near 
and much too strong for him. And a portion of them 
quickly outflanked him. His command was broken 
to pieces, with a loss of three killed, eight wounded, 
and twenty captured, himself being among the prison- 
ers. The remainder escaped and rode back to Memphis. 
A larger detachment was then sent out, which brought 
in the killed and a few wounded who had not been 
taken away, but found no enemy. Captain Huff and 
his fellow-prisoners were confined at Andersonville, the 
survivors remaining captive till the end of the war. 

The rebels engaged were from the Second Missouri 
Cavalry, commanded by a Major Carpenter, assisted 
by the guerrillas of Dick Davis and Ford, notorious 
leaders of that region. 

But Captain Huff suffered more than defeat and 
capture. He was dismissed from the army for his 
manao^ement of this affair. There was inexcusable 
injustice, however, in dismissing him without any trial 
or opportunity for defence or explanation, and while 
he was a prisoner in the hands of the enemy, an injus- 



THE WINTER OF 1 864-1 865. 16$ 

tice which was tardily remedied by a hearing granted 
upon his application after the war was over ; but the 
War Department finally, in August, 1865, revoked the 
dismissal and gave him an honorable discharge. 

Another of the marches from Memphis is deemed 
worthy of note, for the unusual character of a part 
of it as well as a part of the captures. About the 1st 
of December it was reported at Memphis that the 
rebels had succeeded in floating down the Big Hatchie 
(which empties into the Mississippi about fifty miles 
above Memphis) and across to the Arkansas shore a 
large lot of arms and quinine. Lieutenant-Colonel 
Yorke, of the Second New Jersey Cavalry, was sent 
with two hundred men of his own regiment and one 
hundred from the Fourth Iowa, to capture the prop- 
erty. Captain Beckwith commanded the Fourth Iowa 
detachment, which consisted of Company C, under 
Lieutenant Dillon, and a part of D, under Lieutenant 
Ogg, The party took transports at Memphis in the 
morning, and landed in the afternoon at the place indi- 
cated. There it was learned that the report was cor- 
rect, and that the arms and quinine had been hauled 
into the interior by ox-carts the day before. The 
country was the southern part of the remarkable 
sunken lands of the " New Madrid Earthquake " of 
1812, which were transformed by that memorable 
catastrophe into swamps and lakes. There was no 
road. The carts had disappeared into the swamp 
westward by a blazed way, very tortuous, and heavy 
with mire. It was late in the day, and it was reported 
that there was a large body of rebels in the neighbor- 
hood. Colonel Yorke hesitated whether to march at 
once or wait till morning. Captain Beckwith advised 



366 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

going at once, and tlie Colonel, having decided to do 
so, gave him the advance as a reward for his zeal. 
This was of peculiar advantage to the Fourth Iowa, 
because the horses at the rear of the column found the 
work much harder than those in front. The first hun- 
dred horses beat the spongy soil and water into deep 
mire, and the night was so dark that each man was 
compelled to follow his leader. After eight hours of 
such marching, at midnight. Captain Beckwith and his 
men reached the borders of a lake, and the trail disap- 
peared in the water. Colonel Yorke came up after 
a time, with the head of the Second New Jersey, but at 
the end of two hours more all of that detachment 
had not arrived. It was supposed that the missing 
ones were unable to get through the swamp because 
of the exhaustion or miring of their horses. Captain 
Beckwith had carefully guarded against such losses 
by strict orders to his men never to halt, even for a 
moment. 

The other side of the lake could not be seen, there 
was no guide, and Colonel York'e was at a loss. After 
a time, however, a Fourth Iowa picket brought in two 
ox-carts and their drivers. They were part of the 
train which had carried the arms, and were on their 
return to the river. This showed that the rebels 
believed that their movement was undiscovered. One 
of the drivers was willing to act as guide, and, putting 
him in front, the column moved into the lake. It was 
three o'clock in the morning and very dark. The 
guide said the lake was two miles wide. The great 
trees of the dense forest which had occupied the land 
before its sinking Avere still standing, just as they were 
killed by the water fifty years before. Long ago 



THE WINTER OF 1864-1865. 367 

stripped of tlieir bark and smaller brandies, and 
bleached white by the weather, they were still erect, 
and filled the scene on every hand, dimly shining in 
the gloom, innumerable ghosts of lives suddenly cut 
off. The water varied from the horses' knees to their 
breasts. Men who ventured out of the track of the 
guide were sometimes caught by deep water, and 
thereafter moved with care. Reaching the west shore, 
the guide led northward a couple of miles, to the 
position of the rebels. It was just daybreak, and their 
camp was surrounded at once. There were only a few 
rebels there, and they surrendered after several shots, 
by which no one was hurt. They had concealed the 
valuable stores on an island in the lake, where the 
captors found about a thousand rifles, many revolvers, 
and a large quantity of quinine and other medicines. 
The arms were destroyed. The quinine was taken 
back to Memphis, but it is said that not all of it went 
there by the proper militaiy channel. It was reported 
for weeks afterward, that there were troopers in the 
camps at Memphis who had quinine to sell. 

The object of the expedition being gained, the cav- 
alrymen leisurely took breakfast, and then set out for 
the landing on the Mississippi, the Fourth Iowa having 
still the post of honor, the rear of the column. The 
entire day was spent in the struggle through the 
swamps, but the command was all aboard at dark, 
and in camp at Memphis before morning. 

Early in December, 1864, the regiment lost about 
two hundred and fifty officers and men by reason of 
the expiration of their term of service. The men 
originally enlisted were mustered in mostly on the 
23d and 25th of November, 1861, for three years. 



368 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

That time was now served out, and those who had not 
re-enlisted were entitled to a discharge. There were 
some such men in each company, nearly all of whom 
were men who were not eligible to re-enlist under the 
regulations of the War Department within the time 
limited. There were also some officers who preferred 
not to remain longer in the service, namely. Major Spear- 
man, Quartermaster Raymond, Captain Drummond 
of K, Lieutenants Gilmer of G, Stamm of H, and Bere- 
man of K. These men (except those of Companies H 
and L, who went a month later) were, about the 5th 
of December, sent to Iowa in a body, honorably dis- 
charged, the service they had promised having been 
fully and faithfully performed. 

The men who remained were not at all disturbed or 
discontented upon seeing their comrades go home at the 
end of the term, when they might have gone them- 
selves. No regrets of the re-enlisted were heard ; on 
the contrary, the veterans cheerfully teased the others 
about their discharge until they must have been heart- 
ily Sony that they had not become veterans too. Oth- 
erwise this apparently very important point in the 
history of the regiment was hardly remarked by any 
one. The veterans, having re-enlisted before the expi- 
ration of their first term, probably felt they were 
already well on their way through the second ; and 
before the end of 1864 it was generally expected 
that the end of the war would be reached in 1865. 

The men of Winslow's brigade were hardly out of 
the way on Grierson's expedition into Mississippi, when 
their camp became a scene of busy preparation for the 
removal to Louisville. The dismounted and disabled 
men were employed several days in packing and load- 



THE WINTER OF 1864- 1865. 369 

ing on steamboats the camp equipage and baggage 
of all, and on the 2d of January these men, with the 
property in their charge, arrived at Louisville. 

The Grierson raiders, from Vicksburg, arrived on the 
16th, with Colonel Winslow and Lieutenant-Colonel 
Peters. In the meantime the regiment at Louisville 
had been commanded by Major Pierce, who was, how- 
ever, still disabled by the wound received in the Price 
campaign. 

The whole command was at last together again, and 
the work of instruction and preparation for the spring 
campaign, already begun by General Upton, was car- 
ried on with renewed spirit. It was now known what 
the regiment was to do as soon as the weather would 
permit. In fact, on the 10th of January, Upton in- 
formed the officers of the brigade that he was ordered 
by Thomas to move as soon as possible to Eastport, 
Miss., on the Tennessee River, the rendezvous for the 
great cavalry campaign to be made by Wilson. 

The organizing and refitting of the division for the 
most effective work went on with great activity. Up- 
ton, Winslow, and Alexander were untiring in their 
efforts, and all of the officers showed a spirit more 
zealous, perhaps, than at any former time. A large 
number of horses was required in Winslow's brigade, 
the recent campaigns having reduced by more than half 
the list of those serviceable. The arms were looked 
to with close care, and every private and corporal was 
expected to show at any time a Spencer carbine in per- 
fect condition. Only the sergeants were now armed 
with revolvers, and they were not required to carry 
carbines. In discarding the revolvers the men were 

saved materially in the weight to be carried, and the 
24 



370 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

Spencer answered practically tlie purposes of both pis- 
tol and gun. The War Department had at last been 
convinced that the long, clumsy, dragoon sabre was not 
the best, and in December, at Memphis, the men of the 
regiment there received the comparatively light and effec- 
tive modern cavalry sabre. It was some inches shorter, 
and with the scabbard considerably lighter, than the 
old one, and the change was so heartily approved that 
at Louisville the remainder of the regiment and the 
whole brigade were equipped with it. All other 
accoutrements were looked to with the same care, 
and much time was given to inspections, to the turn- 
ing in of the less serviceable equipments, and to prac- 
tice with the new. Vacancies in commissions were 
filled with special care, and the officers were continu- 
ally instructed and put to various tests respecting their 
fitness for service. Able-bodied men on detached ser- 
vice were recalled, and their details, when necessary, 
were filled with men less capable of field duty. 

Not much could be done at Camp Upton in out-door 
instruction or evolution, because the weather was almost 
continuously very bad. That prolonged and terrible 
winter (it began early in November and continued well 
into March) was a most serious and costly obstacle to 
all military operations. Nearly every day of the time 
spent at Louisville was marked by snow or ice, rain or 
thaw. When out-door drill or movement was imprac- 
ticable, the most of the men had several hours a day 
for their own uses. At first their principal efforts were 
directed toward their personal comfort. To keep their 
quarters warm on the freezing days and to keep out 
the water when the thaws came, were objects which 
every day presented questions of lively concern. It 



THE WINTER OF 1 864-1 865. 371 

will be interesting to the friends of soldiers to read, 
that at this time, in the midst of a remarkably severe 
winter, these troopers were supplied with no shelter 
except " shelter-tents." A shelter-tent is simply a piece 
of stout cotton cloth (lighter than duck) four feet 
wide and six feet long. Each man could have one, 
and two men, by fastening their " tents " together at 
the longer side and stretching them over a ridge-pole 
three feet from the ground, were fairly protected from 
dews and light rains. But even the toughened veteran 
could not make himself comfortable in such quarters 
in a hard winter. Many devices were tried to obtain 
warmer shelter, but without much success until " pay- 
day " came. Then, with hardly a murmur, the men 
went to the lumber-yards of Louisville, bought boards 
with their own money, and with these and their 
shelter-tents they quickly constructed small huts, in 
which it was possible to get warm. 

In spite of the harsh weather and the rigid require- 
ments of duty at Camp Upton, the men were contented 
and happy during this interval of campaigns. They 
were now sure of the success of their cause. Hood 
had been defeated, and his forces were dissipated. It 
was hardly possible that Lee could withstand Grant 
in another campaign. Sherman had proved the weak- 
ness of the Confederate powers by marching directly 
through their country. Their troops in the West could 
not cross the Mississippi to reinforce their armies in 
the East. It was no longer possible to muster Con- 
federate forces between the Mississippi and the Alle- 
ghanies strong enough to meet even the single army 
then in Tennessee under Thomas. It was with a cer- 
tain impatience, therefore, that our men now looked 



372 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

forward to an early end of the war. They were 
philosophers, however, and the expectation of release 
did not make them discontented with their present lot. 
There is a soldiers' philosophy sure to be acquired by 
veteran campaigners. By years of experience these 
men had learned how to make the best of their cir- 
cumstances. Their life was one of hardships and dan- 
gers, but they had undertaken it voluntarily, there was 
no other way to gain their grand object, and the hard- 
ships and dangers they had already undergone only fit- 
ted them the better to meet those that were yet to come. 
Experienced soldiers, whatever their private thoughts 
and feelings may be, acquire a habit of treating their 
trials and risks, outwardly at least, in a spirit of care- 
lessness and indifference. It is their philosophy, and it 
is a very real part of their lives. On the whole, they 
would say, it is easier and safer to do your duty and 
obey orders ; anyhow it is better to be jolly whatever 
the circumstances are. 

The education or development of the volunteers in 
the Civil War was remarkable. The soft, untried boys 
of 1861 became not only " veterans," but men, with 
the patient intelligence to grasp, and the ready courage 
to assume, the duties of men. Three years in the 
mighty school of war were equal to a lifetime in the 
employments of peace. In active military service man 
finds his most effective training. Even if the war be 
without any high moral purpose, the development of 
the manly powers in those who are in the field, directly 
engaged in the contest, is very great; but to endure 
hardships, disease, and excessive physical toil, to try 
again and again with patient persistence, after disap- 
pointment or failure or disaster, to overcome the obsta- 



THE WINTER OF 1 864-1 865. 373 

cles and resistance presented by nature and the enemy, 
always spurred on by a burning zeal toward an exalted 
object, — this indeed makes a man. Self-reliance, readi- 
ness, patience, cheerfulness, contempt for petty ills and 
difficulties, a just respect for the ability of adversaries, 
a quick discrimination between pretenders and true 
men, between the shirkers and the faithful, an in- 
stinctive hold upon essential things, with indifference 
to non-essentials, — these are among the qualities which 
are strongly developed and cultivated in men by life 
in the field. 

But history is a record of results, rather than of the 
means by which results are achieved, and it is only a 
small portion of the soldier's life that gets recorded. 
An assault that carried a fort or was repulsed, a battle 
that gained or lost the control of a river or a railway, 
a forced march that compelled the capitulation of a 
city or was checked and brought to naught — in the 
broad view of history these do appear ; but the school 
of the soldier, his training and development, the work 
of preparation which makes his success possible, is not 
told in books. The history of the first year of the 
war shows at what enormous cost campaigns are made 
by untrained men, and how small or uncertain are the 
results they are likely to achieve, while through the 
second, third, and fourth years there appear, steadily 
and in greatly increasing proportions, the vast benefits 
of the schooling of experience. Many battles were 
fought before the end of 1862, all of them with great 
pains and struggle in the preparations and at great 
cost in life and money, but only a few of them had 
brought any substantial success or produced any im- 
portant effect in subsequent operations. In 1864 



374 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

effective success had become a habit, and eacli cam- 
paign made the next easier to conduct and more terri- 
ble to the enemy. 

The instructions given by officers and by the books 
of regulations and tactics, in drilling and in field- 
schools, were, of course, of much value in their way, 
but events moved so rapidly in the vast field the 
armies occupied, and the movements in successive cam- 
paigns were so nearly continuous, that there was little 
time for teaching by rules and books. Not many of 
the two thousand regiments of the volunteer army had 
the fortune of any regular or extended instruction or 
drill. At any rate, that was true of the war in the 
Mississippi valley, and especially true of the cavalry 
arm. The practice of separating cavalry regiments into 
parts, and sending the diiferent parts upon different 
services, so that a whole regiment was seldom withiu 
reach of its commander for many days together, pre- 
vailed ^videly during the first years of the war ; and it 
was a practice most injurious and demoralizing. Among 
the serious evils that followed it was the almost in- 
evitable failure or inability of the several detachments 
to keep up any important amount of drill or instruction. 

It was in the practical school of the necessities and 
emergencies of each day, therefore, that the volunteers 
were made soldiers. In the camp, on the march, ou 
picket or skirmish-line, foraging or defending a fora- 
ging-train, in observing and emulating or criticising the 
conduct of his fellows or of the enemy, the evolution, 
of the effective soldier from the green volunteer went 
on with unceasing activity and increasing speed. In 
camp he was every day learning better how to take 
care of himself, of his health, his food, his strength; 



THE WINTER OF 1864-1865. 375 

and his zeal in the care of his horse and arms became 
his pride, not from any vanity, but because actual ex- 
perience had taught him the practical value of such 
care. On the march he studied to save his horse and 
himself from any unnecessary exertion, never flagged in 
watching the chances for forage, went hungry himself 
rather than let his horse lack corn, exercised a stoical 
self-control in husbanding his rations if they were 
scanty, and never lost sight of the object of the cam- 
paign. If he did not really know that object, he 
always thought he did, which is much the same thing. 
In the duties of the camp and bivouac, of the mess, the 
picket and minor guards, in the cultivation of cheerful- 
ness and of a spirit of patience and endurance under 
hardships, in the dangers of the skirmish-line, fighting 
in the advance of a marching column or on its flank, 
making a dash upon some point, standing under fii^e, 
receiving an attack, — nearly all his many and varied 
ordinary duties go to the formation of that hardy 
character which at last, on the supreme occasion, makes 
possible the soldier's glorious deeds. 

It is this daily life of the volunteer which yet awaits 
its historian. And the years go so fast that those who, 
with skilful hands, could do it far the best, those who 
were themselves a part of that life, will soon be mus- 
tered-out again, and for the last time. 

In 1861, in a fever of wrath and impatience, the 
volunteers hurried into the field, without any training 
except very little of the crudest drilling, often without 
any proper organization and without any complete or 
effective armament, without any care for health or any 
economy of energies, but always free and noisy with 
discussion and criticism of every step of the authorities, 



376 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

civil and military. In 1865, tlie same men had become 
cool, cautious, conservative, self-contained, had forgot- 
ten how to boast, and had ceased to make plans of 
campaign for the generals. 

The average volunteer when he first went out con- 
stantly insisted upon his " rights " as a soldier. He 
knew every article and every privilege he was " en- 
titled to," and he meant to have them all. He 
accepted everything the cjuartermaster had to issue, 
and promptly gave him to understand that he knew 
very well what other goods were " allowed by the 
regulations" and were not yet supplied. And both 
the quartermaster and the regulations being in his 
judgment deficient, he made further additions himself, 
by gift from home or by purchase at the nearest town 
or of the sutler. Many a volunteer in his first cam- 
paign was seen to struggle along with a burden like a 
peddler's pack, containing perhaps a " comfortable " to 
be added to his blanket, or a pillow, or an extra 
pair of boots, or books, or some product of domestic 
art, designed, with sanitary or gustatory view, to 
*' regulate " the physical system or give a relish to the 
plain army rations. With most men one campaign 
was quite enough to put an end to all such foolishness ; 
and, as to the average soldier, it may be said that, 
though in his first campaign he tried to see how many 
articles, and how much of them, he could carry, in his 
last he devoted all his ingenuity to choosing the fewest 
in number and the least in weight. The same man 
who in his first march carried as a matter of course an 
iron picket-pin weighing a couple of pounds, would, 
after experience, if four horse-shoe nails were ordered 
to each man on beginning a march, take care that not 



THE WINTER OE 1864-1865. 377 

•one nail more should get into his saddle-pocket ; and, 
though he had at first carried with his picket-pin a 
lariat-rope weighing several pounds, in later campaigns 
he had not only " lost " both pin and rope, but would 
•cut off the surplus ends of straps and bridle-reins, to 
gain a little more in the reduction of his horse's load. 
When he first went a-soldiering he received both hat 
and cap, but after a little experience he was of opinion 
that a hat not in actual use was of no use, and the extra 
one had to go. And so went, piece by piece, all the 
extra garments provided in the beginning for a full 
supply and for the occasions of display contemplated 
by the regulations. " Sunday is just as good as any 
other day " was the economical view, and the clothes 
which the United States gave him for the serious 
business of marching and fighting, the United States 
ought to be proud to have him wear in the nonsense 
of parades and reviews. The shifts and devices to 
which he resorted to make up for any deficiency or 
scantiness of wardrobe were endless, and were prac- 
tised cheerfully, with perennial jokes. At first every 
man carried a pair of blankets, and some added an 
extra single one. But after 1861 hardly any cavalry- 
man carried more than a single blanket and a poncho ^ 
or rubber-blanket. Nearly all the men "bunked" 

' The " poncho," of Mexican origin, was a piece of black enamelled or oiled 
cotton cloth, about five feet by four, worn over the shoulders by means of a slit 
in the middle, through which the head was thrust. It was of course worn only 
in rains, but at other times was useful as a protecting wrapper for blanket and 
overcoat. It was superseded by the " rubber-blanket," which was much better 
for all purposes. This was somewhat larger, but lighter and much more flexi- 
ble ; and, having no slit in the middle, it was not only a perfect guard against 
dampness when spread on the ground as a bed, but could be stretched over the 
sleeper as a simple tent in case of rain. It was not a blanket in the usual 
meaning of the word, but was made of muslin or light cotton cloth, coated on 
•one side with rubber. 



378 S TO J? Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMEN T. 

(slept) by twos, and having thus two woollen blankets 
and two rubber ones, nothing essential to a good bed 
was lacking. One rubber- blanket spread on the ground 
(of course it would be spread upon hay, straw, " fod- 
der,"^ or leaves, if either could be obtained dry), a 
woollen blanket upon that, the other woollen blanket 
over the sleepers, and the second rubber-blanket over 
all, was as much as any reasonable man could ask. A 
saddle and a pair of boot-legs made a pillow, and with 
a camp-fire near the feet, and no expectation of being 
called out for duty during the night, there was a couch 
for a king. 

That turning out for duty in the night was one 
of the terrors of camp-life. There were few tempers 
so sweet as to be proof against the test. To be com- 
pelled to give up a warm nest, with sleep half done, 
and stand in the cold mists of the night, may soon put 
one into a chill so severe that only the sun or a good 
fire can remove it. 

If camp-fires could not be pernaitted, it was usually 
difficult to keep warm at night. No clothing or 
blankets could do so much for the comfort of men 
lying on the ground. The thing most necessary for 
sleep seems to be to keep the feet warm. It was very 
common to see the soldiers sleep on the ground without 
other covering than their clothes, only taking care to 
have a fire kept alive near their feet. If the value of 
fire had been as well known in the first year of the war 
as it was afterward, no doubt the sickness of that year 
would have been much less than it was. It has been 



' " Fodder" in the South was the leaves and tops of com, stripped from the 
stalks in the fall, bound into sheaves, and stacked like hay. It was of special 
value in that country, where hay was scarce and costly. 



THE WINTER OF 1 864-1 865. 379 

remarked of soldiers that the rarest courage among 
them is the " courage of two o'clock in the morning." 
It is a fact that the belligerent spirit is at its weakest 
in the hours just before daylight. The reason usually 
suggested is, that at that time the stomach is at its 
farthest fi*om food; but as good a reason, if not a 
better, is that when a man turns out at that time he 
is apt to become chilled, the circulation is slow and 
feeble, and the limbs do not fi'eely respond to the will. 
There is another influence, too, in that peculiar fear 
which any man feels when he cannot see the enemy, or 
at least see the place where they are. Plenty of food 
in some degree prevented this chill and fear, especially 
coffee, and in some cases alcoholic stimulants were of 
value; but a fire was better than food, drink, and 
clothes. 

Then nothing did so much to encourage cheerfulness 
and comradeship as the camp-fire. There was no pick- 
eting so tedious, no march so wearisome, wet, or cold, 
no lack of food or forage so serious, but that, when at 
last in camp, with fires brightly burning, the cross 
speeches and ugly spirits disappeared, and the trials of 
the day became the subjects of jokes and mutual 
chaffing. If there had been reverence enough among 
the veterans to be the basis of a new religion, their 
gods would have been Fire and Coffee. 

For, next to fire, the one thing indispensable to the 
soldiers was coffee. There must have been very many 
who, when they enlisted, were not in the habit of 
drinking it, or drank it very little ; but camp-life soon 
made it a necessity to all. The active campaigner was 
sure to take it as often as he could get it. No other 
article of either food or drink could approach it in 



38o STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

value in the estimation of a man wlio had to march or 
work by day or watch by night. Tea was a part of 
the army ration, but there was little demand for it, 
and commissaries in the field were seldom provided 
with it. Fortunately, as coffee in the berries could 
not easily be adulterated, and its bulk was, compara- 
tively, not great, the army nearly always had it in fair 
quality and sufficient quantity. Indeed, the amount 
allowed by the army regulations was more than 
enough, and when the full ration was received the 
surj^lus was a valuable means of barter. It was a 
luxury to the Southerners, who were deprived of their 
usual supply by the blockade and their poverty. To 
them it M^as something like the visit of an angel when 
a Union soldier appeared with a little coffee to trade. 
With that coin he could buy anything, everything, he 
might fancy. I remember a purchase made by a com- 
rade catering for my mess, of a large " Dutch oven," 
two roasting pigs, a bushel of new potatoes, and a 
"nigger" cook, for a pound of the delectable berry. 
The cook, however, the seller may have considered 
elusive property at that time. 

The commissaries were sometimes able to issue the 
coffee roasted and ground, but usually it reached the 
men in the whole berries, and sometimes still green. 
Many were the devices for roasting and grinding it on 
the march or in bivouac. Sometimes, when there was 
no way at all of grinding, and either time or patience 
was unequal to the tedious task of crushing with the 
butt or muzzle of a gun or pistol, the berries were 
boiled whole ; but that decoction was not satisfactory, 
being apt to be thin and weak. Of course boiling 
was the one method of producing the drink. In a 



THE WINTER OF 1 864-1 865. 381 

regular camp this was done in camp-kettles, in quantity 
sufficient for a mess of six or eight men or more, but on 
a march and in bivouac each man was provided with a 
small tin pail (usually made by himself from an 
emptied fruit can), in which he could make a quart 
for one or two men. This rude little kettle was seen 
hanging to every saddle on a march, and three or four 
or half a dozen times a day, if halts were made long 
enough, or opportunity offered, small fires were started 
and water set on for making coffee. If the column 
should move before the boiling was done, why, a 
soldier's blessing upon the inconsiderate commander; 
if while the cooling was in progress, the steaming pails 
would be carried along in the hand until the liquor 
could be drunk in the saddle. Many a time the little 
pots were set a-boiling in the halt that preceded an 
engagement, to provide a brace against the coming 
contest. 

It was of course within the power of a commanding 
officer to diminish the food-supply of the soldiers, and 
that was often done, sometimes because the supply was 
limited, and sometimes in preparing for a campaign, for 
the purpose of reducing the impediment of a wagon- 
train ; but very seldom was the coffee ration cut down, 
even though in fact the men could have got on well 
with three quarters of the fixed allowance. 

All other articles of food belonging to the army 
ration failed to some extent at different times, some- 
times through the exigencies of field service, sometimes 
by inefficient management of officers, sometimes be- 
cause of bad quality. On the whole it must be said, 
however, considering the many great difficulties in the 
way of such a government as ours in supplying armies 



382 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

in so wide a field of operations, that the commissary 
service was remarkably good. The ration described 
in the army regulations was good and ample, and in 
all camps on or near any permanent line of transporta- 
tion it was usually supplied with regularity and in 
full.* The Western cavalry, however, was kept so 
constantly in motion, the average regiment spent so 
large a part of its time on the march or in bivouac, 
sleeping each night in some new place, that to them 
the ration came to mean only hard bread, meat, sugar, 
coffee, and salt. The other articles of the regular 
ration were looked upon as unsubstantial luxuries, 
which might be sought by the pampered fellows who 
lived in camps, but which were beneath the serious 
consideration of real soldiers. On many of the 
campaigns of our regiment, however, it was only 
necessary to carry coffee. The equivalent of the other 
four of the five articles named could be got in the 
country. 

Potatoes were seldom issued to the volunteers, per- 
haps because enough could not be obtained in the 
North ; but the ubiquitous cavalrymen found compen- 
sation for the lack of the potato ration in issuing to 
themselves, from the fields and stores along their lines 
of march the much more desirable sweet-potatoes so 
generally cultivated in the South. " Desiccated vege- 
tables " were sometimes issued by the commissaries 

' The ration allowed the volunteers of the United States Army in the Civil 
War, that is, the allowance for one day, was : 

To each man 12 oz. of pork or bacon, or 20 oz, salt or fresh beef, and 22 
oz. flour or soft bread, or 16 oz. of hard bread, or 20 oz. corn-meal. 

And to every 100 men 10 lbs. green coffee, or 8 lbs. roasted coffee, or 24 oz. 
tea, 15 lbs. sugar, 15 lbs. peas or beans, 10 lbs. rice or hominy, 4 qts. vinegar, 
I qt. molasses, 3 lbs. 12 oz. salt, 4 oz. pepper, 4 lbs. soap, 20 oz. candles, and 
when practicable 30 lbs. potatoes. 



THE WINTER OF 1 864-1 865. 383 

in lieu of potatoes, but tlie men did not find tliem 
palatable and did not care to receive them. They were 
potatoes, carrots, and other roots, shredded, mixed, 
dried, and pressed hard, to be cooked by boiling. 

Of course some knowledge of cooking, in its ruder 
forms, was necessarily acquired by nearly every sol- 
dier in the field. On marches the men did not object 
to the simple cooking required, and very largely.it was 
done each man for himself; but in camp it was, to 
most men, very irksome, because there the work re- 
quired was greater, and was more disagreeable, being 
done for messes, from four to eight men in a mess, or 
sometimes for the whole company. In the first year 
those who found the work tolerable were usually hired 
by the others, for money or by release from certain 
other duties, to cook for all the mess. But later the 
camps were always filled by negroes, escaped slaves, 
many of whom were emjDloyed by the messes as cooks. 
In 1863 the War Department authorized the regular 
enlistment of two negroes in each company of the 
volunteers as "Undercooks," and from that year the 
rolls of many companies regularly bore the names of 
two undercooks each, who were paid by the United 
States. 

The cooking utensils were camp-kettles and deep 
pans, all made of sheet-iron, without covers, from two 
to four of each to a mess. Any other utensils de- 
sired were usually bought by the men, though at posts 
the quartermasters sometimes supplied spoons, tin 
plates, and cups. On a march, however, the cavalry 
wanted nothing more than the little tin pail, already 
described, for coffee, a spoon, and a sheath-knife or 
large clasp-knife. Even a cup was not thought essen- 



384 STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

tial, as tlie pail could be made to answer both purposes. 
With these tools two men together can cook meat, 
coffee, and bread. Pork, ham, beef, or chicken, were 
broiled over the coals on sharpened sticks. When 
hard bread was exhausted, flour or meal could be 
mixed with water and salt in the little pails, and baked 
on a hot stone, or on the end of a stick, or in corn- 
husks. 

The cooking by the negroes for the messes and com- 
panies must have been, usually, very bad. Probably 
it violated every hygienic principle, but an active 
out-door life develops an irresistible digestive ap- 
paratus, and in camp any critics of the cook are apt 
to meet with certain practical discouragements at the 
hands of the other members of the mess, of such a. 
character as that one seldom dares to make a second 
attempt. On a march, whenever they could, the sol- 
diers would persuade or hire the women whom they 
found in the houses along the way, generally black 
women, but sometimes white, to cook for them, thus 
getting much better cooking, and often much better 
food, than they could get in camp. The black women 
were invariably delighted by such an opportunity, and 
often refused compensation, unless it was offered in 
the form of coffee or salt. 

Though the United States did not think of supply- 
ing towels, each man habitually carried one, and bathing 
was so far considered one of the necessities that when 
a man was suspected of neglecting the rite too long, he 
sometimes found himself practising it involuntarily, 
with the active assistance of his comrades. This assist- 
ance was not rendered merely for fun, however. The 
chief purpose was sometimes very serious, having rela- 



THE WINTER OF 1864-1865. 3S5 

tion to that other war in which soldiers are often com- 
pelled to engage, though its operations are usually 
concealed, against those obscure but horrid enemies of 
man, Pedicidus vestimenti and Phthirius ingidnalis. 
Nearly all the men kept tooth-brushes, and those who 
did not usually pretended that they had lost theirs, 
that is, they were ashamed to be thought not to use 
them. A few men had hair-brushes, and nearly all had 
combs. Those who had neither said they were super- 
fluous, as it was easy to do without them by keeping 
the hair trimmed very short. 

Except on long marches, the men could usually get 
from their quartermaster-sergeants all the clothing they 
wanted. The annual allowance of the regulations for 
clothing, in addition to the wages, was $42 to privates 
and a little more to non-commissioned officers. The 
price of each article was fixed by the regulations, and 
remained the same throughout the war. If any one 
" drew " to an amount exceeding his fixed allowance in 
any year, the excess was deducted from his monthly 
pay, while if he drew less the difference was added to 
his pay. But the yearly allowance consisted of one 
overcoat and about two suits complete of other articles ; 
and some men actually saved money from their clothing 
accounts every year after the first. These were thrifty 
fellows, who tried to save, who were willing to take 
stitches in time, and to think of the danger of scorching 
their clothes about the camp-fires. 

The monthly pay of the volunteers the first year of 

the war was: To privates, $13; to corporals, $14; to 

sergeants, $17; to first (or "orderly") sergeants, $20; 

to sergeants on the non-commissioned staff, $21 ; to 

hospital stewards, $30. It was soon raised to 
25 



386 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



\ $20, $24, $26, and $36 respectively. But it was 
always, after 1861, paid in paper, and, because of the 
vast quantity of paper-money issued, the consequent 
scarcity of gold, and the uncertainty of the result of the 
contest, the value of the soldiers' pay fell off steadily, 
until, at the worst, it was but little more than one third 
of the above sums. At one time the privates were 
fighting for hardly $6 a month in real values, and after 
1862 they never had as much as $8 a month. This 
refers not merely to the value of the paper-money, as 
quoted on the exchanges, but to its practical purchas- 
ing power. The necessities of life had to be paid for 
at the rates here mentioned ; and the predicament of 
soldiers who had families was very hard. Those who 
had capital or income from property willingly sacrificed 
it to the support of their families while they remained 
in the field, but those not yet so fortunate suffered 
much in mind. Their army pay was far too small to 
support even one person in comfort, and their wives 
lived in constant anxieties and painful struggles, often 
compelled to accept the aid of " relief committees " or 
kind neighbors.* Many a soldier spent absolutely 
nothing for himself, but sent home his entire pay, as 
well as some small part of his clothing allowance, and 
was still the prey of distressing thoughts, knowing the 
then excessive cost of bread and clothes in the North. 
But they steadily went on fighting, and re-enlisting to 
continue the war. They were in dead earnest ; it was 
not the pay they wanted ; and this heroic experience 

* The pay was not only very small, but it was received very irregularly. 
Nominally, it was paid every two months, but in fact, the trooi^s in the field 
were seldom paid at intervals of less than four months ; and the cavalry, often 
campaigning beyond the reach of paymasters, were occasionally compelled to 
wait six, and even eight, months for their little money. 



THE WINTER OF 1 864-1865. 387 

must have had a great share in the development of that 
strength of purpose and of fighting quality, and that 
stoical self-repression, which in time distinguished the 
volunteers. 

The mass of the volunteers never permitted them- 
selves to doubt that they would succeed in putting 
down secession. Privations were, perhaps, irksome at 
first, but later they were treated with indifference or 
jocularity. The one thing only that was great was to 
beat the enemy, and the immediate, telling, means of 
beating him were the only things important. The 
chief things to be considered, according to the minds 
of the veterans, are tersely mentioned by Sherman, in 
a letter to Thomas, preparatory to the Atlanta cam- 
paign : " When we move we will take no tents or 
baggage, but one change of clothing, five days' bacon, 
twenty days' bread, and thirty days' salt, sugar, and 
coffee : nothing else but arms and ammunition." The 
one grand purpose absorbed all life, and circumstances 
received attention only in proportion to their value 
toward that purpose. First of all the soldier cared for 
his arms, and, if in the cavalry, his horse. Upon the 
effectiveness of these tools he saw that all depended. 
Though he seemed indifferent about his health, he was 
really very careful of it, having a plenty of fixed opin- 
ions as to the quality and relations of food, being sus- 
picious and self-denying about drinking water, anxious 
to keep his head covered and his feet warm at night, 
and convinced that woollen clothing was better than 
cotton or linen in a hot climate. There is a true de- 
scription of him of which the following is a part : " The 
American soldier is j^atient and enduring, good-natured 
and jolly ; makes fun for his comrades, or teases them, 



388 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



as he is inclined ; will do anything for a bunk-mate^ 
from washing his shirt or taking his round of duty 
when sick to lying for him when in difficulty with the 
officers ; can eat raw pork on a march, but won't drink 
much water, says it 's not healthy ; gets corn for his 
horse, somehow, the first thing after a halt, his own sup- 
per next ; carries his pockets full of cartridges ^ ; sj)ends 
all day Sunday cleaning his gun ; has re-enlisted and 
means to see the thing through; thinks army con- 
tractors and Copperheads have prolonged the war; 
does n't have a high opinion of officers, thinks there 
are lots of privates who could take their places and do 
a great deal better ; believes Abe Lincoln is an honest 
man, and is doing about what is right ; will vote for 
him, or any other man who can put down this rebellion ; 
is willing anyhow to do his share, and hopes, when the 
war is over, to see Jeff Davis and the Copperheads go 
to destruction together." ^ 

His greatest pride was in being able to keep cool in 
times of trial. Under fire he would pretend to be in- 
different, ridicule the rebels for not shooting better, 
tease a comrade for being startled or dodging, load and 
fire his gun with ostentatious deliberation, and speak 
with contempt of his own wounds ; and, whenever he 
got near enough the enemy to be heard, chaff them 
and swear at them in high spirits. A good story, 
illustrating these qualities, comes from Meade's army 
in Virginia : It was a cold morning, and the skirmish 
lines of Meade and Lee were very near each other, with 
the little stream called Mine Run flowing between. A 
sheep appeared and walked along the run, on the rebel 

' That is, in addition to those in his cartridge-box. 
' U. S. Service Magazine, vol. iii., p. 17. 



THE WINTER OF 1 864-1 865. 389 

side. One of tlie rebels shot it, and tlien advancing, 
seized tlie prize. Instantly lie was covered by the gun 
of a Union vidette wlio had crept near, with the order 
— " Divide 's the word, or you 're a dead Johnny ! " 
There was nothing to do but agree, and the sheep was 
skinned and divided between the two, amid the cheers 
of their comrades who were looking- on. 

It should not be supposed that the soldiers were 
wholly indifferent to the things they were willing to 
sacrifice. On the contrary, in camp or when there was 
no great affair on hand, they demanded everything they 
could get ; and at the point where the quartermaster 
and commissary ceased to respond, they showed untir- 
ing spirit and art in many efforts to better their condi- 
tion. Materials for comfort in camp and additions to 
the larder would suddenly appear, the source of which 
it was not always discreet to inquire. One of the 
highest encomiums upon a man in the minds of his 
comrades was that he was " a good forager " ; and as to 
certain of the men, it was as if by instinct that they 
would disco verjthe hiding-place of hams, catch a chicken 
or pig without effort, or find sweet - potatoes where 
others had failed. 

But their skill and ingenuity were as freely supplied 
to the great cause. There was no need or obstacle en- 
countered by an army, or a regiment, or a squad, but 
there was a man on the spot able to meet it. Every 
commanding general has remarked this, and probably 
every regiment could cite instances of inventive suc- 
cesses in its own experience.^ From building a bridge 

^ Grant said, in his report of the Vicksburg campaign: "It is a striking 
feature of the present volunteer army, that there is nothing which men are called 
upon to do, mechanical or professional, but that accomplished adepts can be 
found for the duty required in almost every regiment." 



39© STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

or running a steamboat to dressing a wound or " doc- 
toring " a horse, there was no work delayed for lack of 
volunteers to do it. And their zeal in the work and 
pride in being charged with it made them reckless of 
exposure. Whether in water, in bitter cold, under 
a burning sun, or in front of the enemy, it was all one, 
the work would be done. 

And their duties were performed, as nearly all their 
life was lived, in the best of spirits. It was only in 
" fatigue " duties that cheerfulness failed. The cavalry 
had to load and unload, at wharves and railway sta- 
tions, a great deal of grain and hay, and the infantry 
had to do the same as to ammunition and general stores. 
These and similar duties the most of the men would 
shirk if they could; but there was fun in all other 
employments, and no end of it in the idle days of 
camp, when such days came. 

Races and athletic games and competitions occupied a 
good part of the time when the camp remained long at 
one place. Horse-racing, though forbidden or discour- 
aged in some cavalry camps, was encouraged or per- 
mitted in others to such an extent as to produce a 
demoralizing effect upon the men. Minor games and 
contests, and practical jokes, supplied plenty of amuse- 
ment. Every company could boast two or three invete- 
rate jokers, who were never happy except in tormenting 
some one of their comrades for the amusement of the 
others. Of course the victim had to bear the rack 
good-naturedly. The man who resented or resisted 
was lost ; he was the butt of the jokers ever after. It 
was the least of his sufferings that he would become 
the subject of unending tales and jokes, often pure 
inventions, in which, he was always put into an absurd 



THE WINTER OF 1 864-1 865. 391 

or ridiculous position. Even the men who really said 
and did foolish things did not become more famous. 

The value of this latter class was probably not fully 
appreciated. They managed to raise the spirits of their 
comrades so often that their loss would have been 
serious. Those who were in the Fourth Iowa do not 
appear great when compared with those spoken of in 
the literature of other regiments, but they did pretty 
well. One of them, being the quartermaster-sergeant 
of his company, was charged with the custody and 
issuing of clothing. His forte, however, was that of a 
student and military critic, and he could not take time 
for shopkeeping accounts. He issued clothing when 
his men applied, but did not trouble himself to make 
entries; and of course there were wicked men who 
got articles from his store without his leave or knowl- 
edge. But the day came when he had to furnish an 
account, and he had no goods. His genius was equal 
to the occasion. He took the company roll, and dis- 
tributed the whole amount of goods he had received 
fairly and equally along the list. This may not have 
been displeasing to those who had received more than 
the average, but those who had received less expressed 
their discontent in such vigorous and pointed language 
that the sergeant found it prudent to remain in con- 
cealment a few days. The captain of the company 
was appealed to, to correct the charges ; but he was 
as famous as his sergeant, for being unable to see an 
absurdity. He could think of nothing better to do 
than to take the case to the commander of the regi- 
ment. That officer, vexed at having such an affair 
brought to him, when the captain reached the end of 
his tale of the sergeant, immediately advised killing 



392 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

him. " What ! " exclaimed the startled captain. " Kill 
him ! " gravely repeated Colonel Peters. " But do you 
really mean," asked the alarmed captain, when he had 
caught his breath, " do you really mean that I have 
the power to do that for such an offense ? " 

In another company one of these men supplied his 
fellows with Jokes nearly every day. At one time he 
had a horse he called " Old Bob." Old Bob was an 
erratic beast, given to rubbing his master against trees, 
lying down with him in the water,^ and other disagree- 
able pranks. On one occasion he was nervous, and 
would not stand quietly while being saddled. " Stand ! 
you old fool," cried his master ; " stand still ! — Old 
Bob, you never stand still except when you lie 
down ! " 

He was with his company in one of its earlier 
engagements. He drew one of the horse-pistols with 
which the men were then armed, and fired it. The 
recoil of those pistols was remarkable, and this time it 
half threw the man off his horse.. But he had not 
intended to fire, and did not know that he had fired. 
He had another idea of the cause of the disturbance. 
His sergeant presently found him behind a tree, tug- 
ging at the barrel of his pistol. " What 's the matter % " 
demanded the sergeant. " Why, I can't get the thing 
out." " Get what out ? " inquired the sergeant. " The 
ball ! Them damn Johnnies has shot right into my 
pistol, and I can't get it out." 

Another of these geniuses was once part of a force 
sent out on a reconnoissance. The place reported to be 
occupied by the rebels being reached, they were found 

' Horses will sometimes lie down when they go into water, even if saddled 
and mounted. Of course the plight of the rider is the delight of his comrades. 



THE WINTER OF 1864-1865. 393 

not only in front but on botli flanks. Tlie commanding 
officer promptly withdrew some miles, occupied a secure 
position, and awaited the movements of the enemy. 
But the soldiers, learning a few facts and exaggerating 
them, as soldiers are apt to do, supposed that there was 
imminent danger of the loss of the whole force. This 
particular critic was filled with admiration of the con- 
duct of the commander. " I tell you what ! " said he, 

" Colonel was in a mighty tight place. He was 

plumb surrounded, and he had to either cut his way 
out or fall back for reinforcements." 

But these makers of entertainment found their rivals 
when the recruits came. And they found some revenge 
as well, for all classes of old soldiers would seize every 
opportunity of getting fun out of the green ones. 
Their wonderings and blunders, their horror of hard- 
ships, their absurd ideas of actual war, made jokes as 
plenty as blackberries, and presented irresistible temp- 
tations to mischievous veterans. There was no end to 
the devices by which they were tormented, to make 
more fun. Of course those who were only ignorant 
soon learned their lessons, but those who were both 
ignorant and credulous had to suffer long. To get one 
of them arrested for firing his gun was easy.^ To make 
him present a ridiculous appearance in public by some 
unconscionable advice as to the use of his equipments 
was often possible. One of them was once induced, on 
a return march, to carry an old soldier's gun as well as 
his own, being persuaded that it was better for both 
horses to have their loads equalized. It was not un- 
common to get them to demand butter or eggs, or other 

' It was a serious offense to fire a gun when not in an engagement or under 
the immediate orders of the proper officer. 



394 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

impossible things, of commissaries or quartermasters^ 
and they were frequently persuaded to go to some fine 
house, or to the quarters of a high officer, upon a care- 
ful explanation of the reasons why, in spite of outward 
appearances, that was the best place to get their wash- 
ing done. 

As they had many exaggerated ideas of the circum- 
stances of campaigning and fighting, it was easy to 
make some of them swallow big stories of conflicts and 
deeds of daring. Old soldiers never tired of drawing 
the long bow, to scare or impose upon the recruits. 
Perhaps it was in that seductive amusement that they 
acquired a habit which seems to have clung to some of 
them ever since. But it was not only recruits upon 
whom they practised this art. There were some oppor- 
tunities in the field, and many when at home on fur- 
lough, for telling tales to make civilians open their eyes 
in wonder, and they were not neglected. One instance^ 
put into rhyme by a witty civilian whose credulity was 
overtaxed, is here preserved : 

" Tell me, O gunner of Battery B ! 

hero of Valley Pine ! 

Some glorious deed of the battle-field, 

Some wonderful feat of thine, 
Some skilful move in the fearful game 

Of war that has been played 
On yon bloody field, whose broken squares 

With blue and gray are laid." 

"Well, stranger, here all day long 

1 fought my gun, till every round 
Was spent ; I had some powder left. 

But never a ball could be found. 
So I trained my gun on a rebel gun, 

And so true was my range and aim 
That a shot from his gun flew plump into mine. 

And finished the load of the same ! " 



THE WINTER OF 1 864-1 865. 395 

" Enough ! Enough ! O gunner bold ! 

O hero of Valley Pine ! 
Alas ! I fear me thy cannon's throat 

Can swallow more than mine." ' 

But credulity was not confined to the recruits, nor to 
the ranks. There were officers who were easily im- 
posed upon, and they were not spared. One is remem- 
bered in the Fourth Iowa who caused much hilarity. 
He would gravely wear, upon all occasions, all the 
feathers and toggery mentioned in the regulations for 
any occasion, and he grieved over the difficulty of 
transporting on marches a large trunk for his clothes.^ 
When he first appeared in the camp, at Helena, fresh 
from Iowa, and was having his quarters prepared, a 
waggish officer advised him to provide against the big 
snakes, which, he said, came from the neighboring 
forest at night in great numbers and took possession of 
all the tents, searching for warmth. In much alarm 
the believing officer had his cot raised in the middle of 
his tent, on slender improvised legs, several feet high, 
his new friend assuring him that the serpents would 
not be able to get up there. 

The Fourth Iowa was well acquainted with a gen- 
eral in high command, who was, in his way, as easy to 
impose upon. The tale of an imaginative "female 

' But the gunner's experience was not without at least one close precedent. 
In 1863, when the revolution of Salnave was in progress in Hayti, the British 
ship of war Bulldog appeared off Cape Haytien and fired upon the town and 
fort, to punish the people for an insult to the British Consul's flag. An old 
cannon on the fort was struck by one of the shot directly in the muzzle. The 
shot went to the breech, knocked the gun to a distance, and in 1888 was still in 
it. Even the dull soldier who supposed that the enemy had thrown a bullet into 
his pistol could cite instances of bullets meeting in the air between contending 
forces. There are two examples of such an encounter in government museums, 
at Washington. 

** The baggage of a regimental officer seldom exceeded one small valise. 



396 STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

spy "" was enougli to induce him to send fifteen hundred 
cavalry on a marcli of sixty miles, upon the hope of 
capturing a subordinate rebel general away from his 
command. He was always easily exercised by stories 
of the expression of rebel sentiments. A couple of 
days after Forrest's raid into Memphis, perhaps when 
he was smarting under the mortification he must have 
experienced in that affair, he was told that the citizens 
were about to bury a rebel captain who had been 
killed in the engagement, and that there was a Con- 
federate flag in the coffin. This heinous crime certainly 
could not be permitted. He promptly ordered out 
Captain Beckwith (of the Fourth Iowa) with one hun- 
dred cavalry, to arrest the wicked rebels. The cap- 
tain, vexed and humiliated at being sent upon such an 
errand, took revenge by construing and executing his 
instructions literally. He marched his command to 
the cemetery, carefully surrounded the whole body of 
mourners, and marched them all, men, women, and 
children, hearse and other vehicles, through the streets, 
to the general's quarters. The general's disgust with 
this performance was only increased when he found no 
flag in the coffin. 

There were certain eccentric characters in the regi- 
ment (as no doubt there were in most regiments) who 
furnished much of the daily entertainment. Those 
who did not discover their ability to interest their 
comrades were of course the more constantly interest- 
ing, and were usually very effective soldiers, being 
much in earnest in all they did. Some of them not 
only distinguished their own companies, but spread 
their fame into other regiments. One of them was a 
man named Ridenour. He was of Dutch birth or 



THE WINTER OF 1 864-1 865. 397 

descent, and had lived in the wilds of Arkansas, from 
which his comrades called him " Arkansaw." He was 
about thirty years old, wholly uneducated, but by 
nature shrewd, and he had acquired in a high degree 
that self-possession and practical wisdom which appear 
in men whose lives are much given to hunting and 
traversing an unsettled country. When the war broke 
out the Secessionists persecuted him in Arkansas, and 
he moved into Missouri. Finding himself still among 
Secessionists, he moved again and again northward, 
and finally crossed the border into Iowa. The Foui'th 
Iowa Cavalry was organizing, and his wrath was at 
the fighting point. He went into Company C, and 
gave it a fame more or less startling and humorous to 
the end of the war. His consuming, deliberate passion 
was to " git even with the Secesh." He was in more 
battles, big and little, than any man in the regiment, 
because he sought every opportunity to get into an 
engagement on his individual responsibility, without 
the knowledge or consent of any officer. His courage, 
like his appetite, was perfect on any occasion. He 
seemed wholly unable to comprehend tactics, regula- 
tions, or discipline, but he had the craft of woods and 
swamps and obscure roads in a remarkable degree. It 
seemed to be irksome to him to go anywhere by the 
highway. He often went, sometimes with leave and 
sometimes without, on an independent march, a " short 
cut " across the country, or foraging in a new region. 
Sometimes he disappeared and was gone for a day or 
more, suddenly reappearing without any report of him- 
self. His return was always marked by some savory 
addition to the larder of his mess or some increase in 
the personal property of himself or his friends ; but he 



398 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

was dumb when called upon for an account of his 
movements. His great point was a fast horse. He 
bent his efforts to the capture or " confiscation " ^ of 
horses, and was continually seen trying a new horse in 
comparison with his last one ; and he always kept the 
fleetest. Again and again, from the column on a march 
or from a picket post, he was seen, coming in " on the 
home-stretch " like the wind, with a party of the enemy 
after him ; but he always had the best horse, and it 
was usually loaded with property not known to the 
regulations. If he had belonged to a " bummer " com- 
mand, he would have been King of the Bummers. 

On one occasion, his command being on a march in 
Mississippi, at a place where the road was to turn an 
angle, he obtained leave to " cut across " the country. 
His reason for going, if he had one, is forgotten. He 
took two others of his company, and started through 
the woods. Approaching a house on a byroad, they 
saw three horses saddled and hitched at the gate in 
front. Satisfied that three rebel scouts were in the 
house Arkansaw immediately " charged," but his two 
men failed to follow him. The rebels ran out and 
opened fire, and he found himself alone on the field. 
He ordered the enemy to surrender, all the time blazing 
away with his revolvers, for he always carried from 
two to a dozen, but the order was treated with con- 
tempt. The battle raged until one of the rebels was 
killed and another wounded. The third only sur- 
rendered after Arkansaw had struck him on the head 

' "Confiscation " was the appropriation of any personal property one might 
take a fancy to, without careful inquiry as to its ownership. If it was found in 
the enemy's country, of course it was fair prize, the fate of war ; if in the camp 
of your friends, that was the fate of war too, and you had to risk only the chance 
of discovery. 



THE WINTER OF 1864-1865. 399 

with an emptied pistol. The advance of the column 
found the champion on the road, standing guard over 
two prisoners and three extra horses, with a dead rebel 
on the field. 

Another story told of Arkansaw is yet more pict- 
uresque. He was one night sent out on a scout, alone, 
to get certain information. At a place some miles in 
the enemy's country, he deemed it prudent to conceal 
his horse in the woods and proceed afoot. He reached 
his object and was returning, still dismounted, when 
he observed a body of rebels between him and camp, 
coming toward him. He climbed a leafy tree by the 
roadside, partly to conceal himself and partly in the 
hope of learning something from the rebels as they 
went by. He did learn something, but the lesson was 
long and irksome. They stopped near his tree, and 
finally established a picket post under it. And he had 
to cling to his perch all night ; but, with his inevitable 
good luck, he saw them move away in the morning, 
leaving his way clear to camp. 

It was Ridenour's remarkable fortune that, in all 
his private campaigns and adventures, he was never 
wounded or captured. 

It would be a mistake to imagine, from all that has 
been said, that the soldiers were content to spend their 
spare time in mere fleeting fun. While they were dis- 
posed to get fun out of nearly all experiences, they 
were also capable of combining entertainment with 
j)rofit, or at least with intellectual employments. 
Nearly all were readers, and perhaps all were letter- 
^vl'iters. Books were read and passed around until 
they fell into tatters, and they were not always novels 
either ; and newspapers were swallowed, from the first 



400 STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

column to the last, witli tlie utmost avidity. The post- 
master was the most popular of their comrades. No 
one grumbled at his being relieved from other services, 
in view of his carrying the mails, though often for 
weeks together, unfortunately, he had nothing to do, 
because his command was beyond the reach of the 
post-office. But the failure of the mails to come did 
not much diminish the writing of letters to go. Be- 
sides letters to their families and friends, some wrote 
war news for their home newspapers, and some faith- 
fully kept diaries throughout their service. 

It hardly need be said that there was always the 
deepest interest in political affairs, with perennial 
political discussion. The Fourth of July, Emancipa- 
tion Day, and other occasions were sure to find speech- 
makers among the privates as well as among the 
officers, and no good Union soldier omitted an op- 
portunity to present his pet argument on the war to 
any " rebel," citizen or soldier, whom circumstances 
compelled to listen. Whenever the Union forces cap- 
tured the capital of a State, a number of the men 
would take possession of the state-house, organize a 
legislature, and proceed to debate the questions of the 
time, with many proofs of ability and parliamentary 
knowledge. The Secessionists, however, were roundly 
abused, and invariably voted down ; and the sitting 
always ended with the unanimous repeal of the ordi- 
nance of secession. 

The soldiers in camp produced, too, their full share 
of the vast quantity of verses inspired by the war. It 
cannot be said that many of them were very good, but 
then the soldiers were not so likely to be serious in 
their appeals to the muse as the people who witnessed 



THE WINTER OF 1864-1865. 401 

the contest from their homes, a point of view from 
which all the operations of an army, and therefore of 
the soldiers, seem very terrible. So the poetry of the 
camps, even when written by capable versifiers, was 
apt to be humorous. Indeed, serious verses were gen- 
erally concealed by their authors, or entrusted to a 
chosen few, in fear of the merciless jokers. Humorous 
verses found appreciative readers, and serious ones, if 
once caught, were made humorous by force. But not 
many of the poems of the soldiers, beyond those 
already printed in the literature of the war, could 
have been worth preserving, unless to amuse. One 
of those that came in the way of the writer is here 
given with that pui-pose. It is believed to have been 
written quite seriously. It was found among papers 
lost by William H. Landreth, who was with Shelby in 
Price's army, in Missouri, in 1864, when the Fourth 
Iowa, with other regiments, was fighting and driving 
those famous rebels. We know William's name by 
finding it signed to the " balled." 

BALLED. 

1 father father bild Me a Boat 

an put it on the oasen that I may float 
her father was welthy he bilt her a Boat 
an put it on the oasen that She Mite float 
She stepte on the Boat She cride out Goy 
Now II find my swet salar Boy. 

2 She hadent bin Sailen far on the Main 
She spide three Ships come in from Spain 
She hailed each captain as he drew ni 

an of him She did in quire her Sweet Salar Boy 

3 Captain Captain tel me trew 

if my sweet William is in your crew 
11 tel you far Lady II tel you My Dear 



402 STOR Y OF A CA VALR V REGIMENT. 

your Sweet William is not hear 

At the head of rockeyisland as we past By 

Will was took Sick an thare did die 

4 She stove her Boat a ganst a Rock 

I thout in my Soal her hart was Broak 
She rong her hand She toar her hare 
Jest like a lady in dis pair 

5 go bring me a Cher for to set on 
a pen an ink for to rite it down 

at the end of evry line She dropt a teer 
At the end of evry vers it was O My Deer 

6 go dig my grave booth Wide an deep 
put a marvel Stone at my head an Feet 
an on my brest you may carv a dove 

to let the world no I dide for love. 

Comradeship among tlie soldiers was, however, not 
limited within regiments. In the infantry there was^ 
naturally, a closer acquaintance between regiments than 
in the cavalry. The infantry regiments lived and 
moved very near each other, and had many camp and 
campaigning experiences in common, while the cavalry, 
in its earlier history, was so scattered, broken into de- 
tachments for service in widely separated places, that 
any fellowship, or even acquaintance, between regi- 
ments was impracticable ; but, in later years, when the 
cavalry was used in divisions and brigades, and the 
regiments were encamped as near each other as prac- 
ticable, there appeared a very agreeable sense of mutual 
interests and an increasing esprit de corps, which must 
have had a strong influence in subsequent operations 
of the brigade. 

The Fourth Iowa served with the Third Iowa and 
the Tenth Missouri almost continuously from the fall 
of Vicksburg, and the three regiments marched and 



THE WINTER OF 1864-1865. 403 

fought togetlier in every campaign after 1863. It is 
certain that every man remembers the association with 
gratification. The increasing acquaintances among the 
men personally, the confidence felt in either regiment, 
fighting alone, that the others were faithfully waiting 
to assist or relieve, and the sense of power when operat- 
ing together, produced by a long series of joint suc- 
cesses, naturally developed a fine comradeship. Each 
regiment was uniformly generous toward the others, 
and each felt and showed a genuine pride in the deeds 
and the fame of its fellows. If either passed the 
others, going to the front, or upon any honorable or 
agreeable errand, there was no feeling of jealousy or 
resentment, but " Bully for the Fourth Iowa ! " or 
" Bully for the Third ! " as the case might be, would 
ring along the column left behind, with many other 
encouraging cries, while " Here come the Tenth devils ! 
Bully for Missouri ! " expressed the admiration of the 
lowans for the fighting quality of the Missouri regi- 
ment. The last campaign, in 1865, brought the friendly 
corps still nearer, in action and interest ; and when at last 
they parted, disbanded, the separation was as much a 
cause of sorrow as that between any of the companies 
in either regiment. They had become a solid corps, 
and their career as a brigade showed clearly the good 
eifects of the policy of keeping a regiment intact and 
of operating the same regiments together as much as 
possible. 

Specially interesting among the fellow-troopers of 
the Fourth Iowa in the field were those from Kansas. 
They were seldom met east of the Mississippi, but they 
had a share in nearly all affairs in Missouri and Arkan- 
sas. They were generally very spirited and self-reliant. 



404 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

good fighters, tough campaigners, but impatient of 
discipline or work. They were colloquially known as 
" Jay hawkers," and had a reputation throughout the 
army for the speed of their horses and the lightness of 
their fingers. They were inveterate horse-racers, and 
whenever, in the camp of a neighboring regiment, a 
pistol, saddle, blanket, or canteen disappeared, the loser 
was advised to " look in the — th Jayhawkers." 

Two or three of the Kansas regiments, among them 
the Fifth, were in camp at Helena, sometimes brigaded 
with the Fourth Iowa. At the same time the Second 
Wisconsin Cavalry was there, a fine, soldierly, highly 
respectable command. One of the Second Wisconsin 
died, and his comrades, with proper decorum, prepared 
for a regular military funeral. Some went out and 
dug the grave, and returned to camp before the funeral 
procession moved. It haj^pened the same day that the 
Fifth Kansas also had on hand the body of a departed 
patriot. Not being given to idle ceremonies, they 
simply carried it off to the burying-ground, intending 
there to dig the grave and despatch the business with- 
out unnecessary expense of time. The Wisconsin 
party had not yet arrived, and the Kansans found a 
grave ready and waiting for a tenant. What was the 
use of digging another ? The defunct " Jayhawker " 
would not care who prepared his " home." ^ They 
dropped him in, quickly filled in the earth, and went 
back to their camp or their horse-racing. Presently 
came the mournful column of the Wisconsins, march- 
ing as a funeral guard of honor, with solemn tread and 

' The volunteers commonly spoke of the rude graves of their dead comrades 
as " soldiers' homes," a facetious perversion of the name usually applied to 
asylums for soldiers. 



THE WINTER OF 1 864-1 865. 405 

wailing dirge, their fallen comrade borne at their head. 
The diggers led them to the spot where they had left 
an open grave. The rest may be left to the imagina- 
tion. But the Second Wisconsin had had experience : 
they recognized the genius of the Fifth Kansas. Only 
the " Jayhawkers " could steal a grave ! 

But we have not yet mentioned one of the agencies 
by which efficient soldiers are made, perhaps the great- 
est of all, namely, good officers. The laws of war and 
the regulations of an army necessarily invest the offi- 
cers with very great powers over the men, so great as 
that, under poor officers, even the best of men may 
become poor soldiers. The men who filled the ranks 
of the regiments enlisted in 1861 and 1862 must have 
been substantially equal in intelligence and courage in 
all parts of the North, yet, although some of the regi- 
ments very soon passed their callow period and reached 
efficiency, others progressed by slow and uncertain 
steps ; although some quickly distinguished themselves 
for courage in action and endurance in marching, others 
failed or became demoralized under either test. There 
was no such difference in character between the men 
as would explain this wide difference in conduct. You 
would certainly find poor officers in the less efficient 
regiments. General McPhersou, himself a model offi- 
cer, when, after the Vicksburg campaign, he tried to 
get authority to reorganize his command, with a view 
partly to greater efficiency of officers, said to the Adju- 
tant-General : " My experience has shown that the 
value and efficiency of a regiment depend almost 
entirely upon the officers ; that there is no such thing 
as a worthless regiment, as far as the enlisted men are 
concerned, when the officers, from the colonel down, do 



4o6 STOH Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMEN T. 

their whole duty." The men realize clearly that the 
officers are in superior and powerful positions, but have 
keen eyes for their mistakes and weaknesses. An officer 
may easily lose the respect and confidence of his men 
by any persistent misconduct or failure of duty, even 
though they are themselves much more guilty. If 
they see that he does not provide for them as well as 
he could, or that he does not enforce obedience to 
orders, or that in the field he does not lead them where 
they know they ought to go, they must, naturally, dis- 
trust him and fear that in some emergency they will 
fall into disaster by his fault. Having no other head, 
they feel as if they had no head, and so are likely to 
to break or fail under any trial. And having once 
tasted the humiliation of failure, they are discouraged 
and spiritless ; they have become poor soldiers. Quite 
the opposite character could have been developed in 
the same men by officers having only fair courage and 
zeal on the field and spirit enough to compel obedience 
to orders. No doubt volunteers have often grumbled 
and threatened under the alleged severity of their dis- 
cipline, especially where it followed a period of laxity, 
but the truth is they really respect the man who insists 
upon obedience, and, after his success, they are loud in 
admiration of his discipline. The average man talks 
as if he considered himself equal to the ordering of all 
things about him, but secretly he would j)refer to have 
another man take the responsibility in any of the great 
acts of life. The most of men are glad to say that 
they did this or that or the other under the orders of 
somebody in higher position. 

When it is considered, then, that in the volunteer 
regiments during the last two years of the war the 



THE WINTER OF 1 864-1 865. 407 

officers were mostly men wlio had won their commis- 
sions by meritorious conduct in the field, and whose 
qualities were well known to the men in the ranks, 
since it was from the ranks they had been promoted, it 
will be understood that one of the most potent factors 
in the making of efficient soldiers was in this evolution 
of efficient officers. 

The Fourth Iowa's experience in respect to officers 
was about the average. There were some who were 
not very efficient, but the most could be said to be 
good, and during the last years, by experience and by 
the processes of elimination and the survival of the 
fittest, the official corps was probably, on the whole, 
as good as that in any other regiment. Indeed, it 
plainly appeared while in the camp at Louisville, 
that the officers had acquired the right hold upon 
the men and that the men really held them in high 
respect and confidence. This period is spoken of in 
particular because it was at the end of a year of " vet- 
eran " service, a year of heavy and very trj^ng cam- 
paigning, and at a time when a number of officers had 
just been created from the ranks. 

The regiment was particularly pleased at this time 
to hear of the promotion of its colonel. He was now 
brevetted brigadier-general, to date December 12, 1864, 
"for gallantry in the field," a reward well earned. 
The gratification of both officers and men was marked 
by the presentation to the new general of a beautiful 
sword and a fine watch. They succeeded in sur- 
prising him with these on the 1st of Februaiy, the 
entire regiment forming about his quarters, and 
Colonel Peters making the gift with a happy little 
speech. 



4o8 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

One of the institutions of tlie regiment not yet men- 
tioned ought not to be overlooked, especially as it too 
now showed much improvement. This was a private 
brass band, which had been organized and maintained 
among the soldiers. The loss of the regular regimental 
band, in 1862, was much regretted, for soldiers are 
very fond of music, and a volunteer band was often 
suggested. In 1863, upon a subscription among the 
officers and some of the men, a set of instruments was 
purchased ; and the men who undertook to play them 
were encouraged by relief from certain of their duties 
as soldiers. Only a few of them had had any ex- 
perience, but under their untiring leader, Levi W. 
Little, of E, they came to play very well ; and they 
maintained their position as " The Baud " till the regi- 
ment was mustered out. Their great difficulty was in 
getting time enough for practice, it being their duty, of 
course, to go upon campaigns like other soldiers ; but, 
as they did not go upon the Price campaign, they had 
a good opportunity to advance their art during that 
time, and at Louisville and afterward they were able 
to give much pleasure to their comrades nearly every 
day. 

The time was rapidly approaching for the spring 
campaign. It was Grant's expectation to have the 
troops in the field, from Richmond to New Orleans, in 
the latter part of February. The campaign in which 
Winslow's brigade was to take part was intended to be 
one of the first to be started, as it was to be in the far 
South. Before the end of January Upton was directed 
to move by boats up the Tennessee to Eastport, Miss. 
But the ice was still blocking the Ohio, and a week of 
February had passed before it was so far broken up as 



THE WINTER OF 1 864-1 865. 409 

to permit the passage of boats. That no time might 
be lost, Upton had his first brigade (Winslow's) on 
the bank of the river at Portland, just below Louis- 
ville, on the 5th of February, ready to embark and 
take advantage of the first opening in the ice. But the 
troops had to stay there, in bivouac, nearly two days 
before they could begin embarking. At last, on the 
7th, they went aboard, but the boats were so small 
that the movement was n^vj tedious. Eight boats 
were required for the Fourth Iowa alone. At least 
twenty must have been required for the brigade. The 
progress of the fleet was much impeded by the ice in 
the Ohio, but on the 10th it passed Paducah and 
entered the Tennessee. A few days later the brigade 
landed at Waterloo, near Eastport, Miss., and marched 
to the cantonment of Wilson's cavalry at Gravelly 
Springs, in Alabama. The three regiments occupied 
a part of the quarters which had just been vacated by 
General Knipe's division. The same day they were 
shown that they had come under a new regime^ and 
began to see great things in the approaching campaign. 



CHAPTER X. 

THE LAST CAMPAIGN CAVALRY AGAESTST FORTIFICATIONS 

EBENEZER CHURCH THE FALL OF SELMA. 

At the beginning of 1865 it was easy to see that 
the Confederacy was on its last legs. In 1863 it had 
undertaken, by conscription laws, to drag into the field 
every man able to bear arms. In the summer of 1864^ 
in desperate efforts to resist Grant in Virginia and 
Sherman in Georgia, the conscription was enforced 
without mercy, and even boys, old men, and invalids- 
were put to service wherever possible. As Grant then 
said : " They have robbed the cradle and the grave 
equally to get their present force. A man lost by 
them now cannot be replaced." ^ And he added that, 
in addition to losses in action, they were then losing, 
from desertions and other causes, at least one regiment 
a day. About the same time Davis said, in a public 
speech, that two thirds of the Confederate soldiers were 
absent from duty, most of them without leave.^ For a 
year every important movement of the Union forces 

' Grant to E. B. Washburne, letter dated August i6, 1864. 

'Speech to the people at Macon, Ca., September 23, 1864: 11 Moore's 
Rebellion Record, pp. 148, 342. 

On the 31st of March the Confederate "Bureau of Conscription" was 
abolished. The reason must have been that it had become utterly ineffective. 
Its books of that date showed that sixty thousand of the sons of proud Virginia 
alone were "absentees" from the army, that is, mostly deserters ! See "A 
Rebel War Clerk's Diary," vol ii., pp. 463, 464. 

no 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 411 



but one liad resulted in defeat and loss to the Con- 
federates. They could not replace their men, and their 
means of replacing matei'iel became poorer day by day. 
In Virginia they were almost surrounded, and for a 
long time had been acting only upon the defensive, 
unable to risk any general conflict. Sherman had swept 
Georgia, from the mountains to the sea, as with a broom. 
He had taken Savannah and the gates of South Caro- 
lina, and was marching steadily northward, fighting, 
but always winning, — marching like a resistless fate, 
"on to Richmond." All of the North Carolina coast 
was ours, and the western part of that State was of 
little value to the rebels, in view of the disaffection of 
the people and the permanent presence of Union forces 
in East Tennessee. Though Sherman's army was now 
withdrawn from Georgia, the Confederate government 
had only a qualified hold upon that State, because of 
the implacable opposition maintained by its governor 
to the plans of the Confederate president. This gov- 
ernor was " Joe " Brown, who was then, as he still is, 
extremely popular in the State. He reminded Davis 
that this was a " war for State rights," and flatly told 
him that no more troops would be sent out of Georgia, 
but that the men of Georgia would be occupied first in 
defending their own State. The government was only 
a confederacy anyhow, and Georgia was an independent 
State ! This cruel turning of the doctrine of secession 
upon itself exasperated Davis to the last degree, and it 
must have caused utter dismay throughout the Con- 
federacy. Probably, in its moral effects, the grim atti- 
tude of the irascible governor did more to overthrow 
the cause of the South than any victory of the Union 
arms. A rattlesnake was one of the chosen emblems 



412 STORY OF A CAVALR7 REGIMENT. 



of the Secessionists : in the rage of desperation the 
serpent had struck its fangs into its own heart. 

By the disastrous defeat of Hood and Forrest at 
Franklin and Nashville, the rebels not only lost their 
only considerable army west of the Alleghanies, but 
they were unable longer to dispute the Union posses- 
sion of Tennessee, Kentucky, northern Alabama, or 
northern Mississippi. All of the rebels who could be 
got into the field in Arkansas and Missouri in the 
autumn of 1864 were defeated in October, under Ster- 
ling Price, in a series of brilliant cavalry engagements 
on the border of Kansas, and were hopelessly routed 
and dissipated. The great river was ours from Cairo 
to the Grulf , and the " Trans-Mississippi Department " 
of the Confederacy was no longer of any certain value 
to their cause. 

Looking at the map, then, we see that early in 1865 
the Confederate armies were in actual control of only 
a small part of the territory of the seceded States east 
of the Mississippi, namely, that part of Virginia lying 
south of the James and west of Richmond, the middle 
part of North Carolina, and parts of Mississippi and 
Alabama. The truculent Governor Brown had shut 
the gates of Greorgia in their face, and Texas and 
Louisiana might as well have been beyond seas. But 
there was a line of cities within the territory they still 
held where army and navy supplies were manufactured 
or stored, which were fortified and garrisoned. These, 
with their cruisers on the seas, were the whole of the 
possessions of the enemy by which they could fairly 
hope yet to win in the war. 

There was no longer any reasonable hope of recog- 
nition by any foreign power. England had been com- 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN, 413 

pelled to acknowledge her duty in respect to the 
privateers, and the Confederacy had reached the limit 
of its power at sea. The blockade of the Atlantic 
ports by the Union navy was substantially effective, 
and there was no counting upon materiel of war to 
come from other countries. Even supplies which could 
be produced at home had become extremely meagre. 
It was with great difficulty that the rebel troops could 
be fed, and people in the cities not attached to the 
armies were pinched for food.^ As to clothing, they 
were almost as badly off. The destructive raids of 
the Union cavalry had left them but a few woollen, 
and cotton mills, and their supply of raw wool and 
cotton was very scanty. They had no money. One 
gold dollar would buy a thousand paper ones. The 
Congress adjourned at Richmond, in March, with- 
out making any provision for the currency. What 
could Congress do ? There was no bullion, coin had 
wholly disappeared from trade, and the Secretary of 
the Treasury had already reported a deficiency of four 
hundred millions of a paper currency that was not 
current except under the compulsion of bayonets or 
the alternative of confiscation. 

A few more blows, and the Confederacy, as a gov- 
ernment, with its armies, must fall. It seemed inevi- 
table that the army under Lee would be overthrown 
in the next campaign ; and if at the same time success- 
ful attacks were made upon their principal remaining 
sources of supply, the rebels would have to face not 
only the necessity of creating a new army when all 
white men capable of bearing arms were already 

• In Richmond, in March, 1865, prices were : Beef, $15 a pound ; bacon and 
butter, $20 a pound ; corn-meal, $140 a bushel ; flour, $1,500 a barrel ; slaves, 
$10,000 each ; and so on. — " A Rebel War Clerk's Diary, "vol. ii., pp. 453 to 461. 



4 1 4 STOR Y OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

enrolled, but tlie vast and increasing difficulty of 
maintaining it. 

So, in February, 1865, in anticipation of his own 
early movement. Grant issued orders for expeditions of 
cavalry from different points in the grand line, with 
the objects of penetrating the enemy's country, distract- 
ing his attention, preventing the concentration of his 
forces, destroying his depots, and at the same time 
supporting or aiding the movement of the three great 
armies led by himself, Sherman, and Canby. Sheridan 
was directed to move with his corps from the Shenan- 
doah Valley upon Lynchburg, take that city and 
destroy the railway and canal, then march south and 
join Sherman, who was then moving north in South 
Carolina with but little cavalry. Characteristically, 
Grant closed his instructions to Sheridan with " I 
would advise you to overcome great obstacles to 
accomplish this." Thomas was directed to send Stone- 
man from East Tennessee, ^^dth a division of cavalry, 
into South Carolina, to make a diversion in favor 
of Sherman's movement, penetrate to Columbia, and 
return to his camps through North Carolina, by way 
of Salisbury. But, Sherman having passed through 
South Carolina before Stoneman was ready for the 
march, he was directed to move through the Holston 
country, toward Lynchburg, destroying railways, salt- 
works, and other property of value to the Confederate 
cause, at the same time holding the passes of the 
mountains against any retreat of Lee to the west. A 
third cavalry expedition, of seven or eight thousand 
men, was to march from Vicksburg east to Meridian, to 
destroy the railways and supplies there, and move 
thence in aid of Canby in his intended operations 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 415 

against Mobile. The fourth one, which proved to be 
far the greatest in its marches, its successes, and their 
results, was directed against central Alabama, pri- 
marily with a view to insure success to Canby in his 
€ampaign against Mobile, by drawing the enemy away 
from him. 

The expedition from Vicksburg was not made. The 
prodigious rains in Mississippi presented such obstacles 
that the troops intended for that march were sent to 
Canby at New Orleans, and moved with him against 
Mobile by water. Sheridan marched to White House, 
connected with Grant's right just in time to assist in 
opening the campaign against Lee, and had finally the 
honor of striking the last blows at Lee's army near 
Appomattox. Stoneman made his march through the 
corner of North Carolina and into Virginia, nearly to 
Lynchburg, then turning south, raided through North 
Carolina, destroying large quantities of railway and 
military property in both States, and defeating the 
enemy with heavy loss in a pitched battle at Salis- 
bury. 

For the movement into Alabama, Grant's instruc- 
tions were,^ " to attract as much of the enemy's force as 
possible, so as to insure success to Canby, to destroy 
the enemy's line of communications and resources, and 
to destroy or capture their forces in the field." He 
suggested that Tuscaloosa and Selma would probably 
be the points against which the movement should be 
directed, but said that the thing of importance would 
be to " penetrate deep into Alabama." And with wise 
caution, he added that discretion should be left to the 

' Grant's " Report of Operations," dated July 22, 1865. See his " Personal 
Memoirs," vol. ii., p. 612. 



41 6 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

officer commanding tlie expedition, to go where lie 
might find it best to gain the objects proposed. He 
also advised that not much artillery be taken, and that 
not less than eight horses be put to each gun and 
caisson. And, finally, he said, " your cavalry should 
rely upon the country for supplies." 

Thomas, understanding that the expedition v^as to 
be conducted chiefly as auxiliary to Canby's operations 
against Mobile and Selma, directed Brevet Major- 
General James H. Wilson, who commanded the cavalry 
of the grand military division,^ to fit out an expedition 
of five or six thousand cavalry, to " make a demonstra- 
tion upon Tuscaloosa and Selma." But Wilson begged 
for orders to take a larger force and for leave to act 
independently of the Mobile campaign. It was his 
belief that three of his divisions would be able to take 
Tuscaloosa and Selma. Thomas yielded, and Grant 
sent special orders giving Wilson the amplest authority 
and discretion. 

The spirited and accomplished . young general had 
now assumed, with prompt eagerness, a very great 
responsibility, but he saw the situation before him 
with clear eyes, and with the splendid confidence of 
the true soldier he felt success already within his 
grasp. 

In the East the Confederates could hardly be said to 
maintain any extended military lines, but in Alabama 
and Georgia they still had one, complete and of the 
last importance to them. The great rivers of these 
States flow southward, the important railways run 
east and west. Where the railways crossed the rivers 

' The " Military Division of the Mississippi," which embraced the Depart- 
ments of the Ohio, the Cumberland, and the Tennessee. 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 417 

were the principal cities. The lower valleys of these 
rivers, extremely fertile, furnished a very large part of 
the food required by the rebel armies. 

In these cities were gathered great quantities of sup- 
plies and were established the most of their remaining 
foundries and factories. A glance at the map will 
show the uniform sweep of the line of these cities, 
from Meridian, on the Mobile <fe Ohio road, in 
Mississippi, by Selma, Montgomery, Columbus, and 
Macon, to Augusta, on the Savannah. They stand at 
remarkably equal intervals along the line. Each was, 
in its way, of almost as much importance to the enemy 
as any other, all were fortified, and the fortifications at 
Selma, Columbus, and Macon were very strong. No 
doubt the Confederate authorities deemed this line 
their last and sure defensive position if they should 
fail farther north. They were still actively employed 
upon an elaborate scheme of defenses for it, were 
collecting vast quantities of stores in its depots, and 
were well provided with the means of concentrating 
troops to defend its posts. At Selma there was a 
large naval foundry, other foundries and iron-works, 
an extensive arsenal, powder-mills, many factories pro- 
ducing materials for war, a great deal of railway prop- 
erty, and many storehouses of militaiy and naval 
goods. At Columbus were collected, on a still larger 
scale, similar depots, properties, and supplies, together 
with three large cotton-mills, a navy-yard completely 
equipped, and a formidable ram, the Jackson^ finished, 
with its machineiy and guns in place, and nearly 
ready for action. At Meridian, Montgomery, and 
Macon, cotton, food, and army stores were con- 
stantly being gathered by a special force ; and the 
27 



41 8 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

Confederate laws for " pressing " supplies were unique 
in their sweeping character and merciless exactions. 

On the Black- Warrior River, in Alabama, about fifty 
miles north of the line described, was the town of Tus- 
caloosa, in a position not only to control the rich valley 
of that river and of the Tombigby, but to be a prin- 
cipal outpost for either Meridian or Selma. In a 
similar position as to Selma and Montgomery stood 
the little town of Montevallo, which was not only their 
outpost, but was of much importance in itself, as being 
on two railways and the principal town in the iron- 
and coal-mining district of Alabama. 

The Fourth Iowa Cavalry became a part of Wilson's 
corps. First, however, in pursuance of the policy of 
concentration inaugurated by him, it was ordered to 
Nashville, to join the army under Thomas. This 
order was received on the banks of the Arkansas 
E-iver in the Indian Territory, where the regiment had 
just ended, in snow and ice, the brilliant campaign 
against Price. Hood was then advancing into Tennes- 
see, Thomas was preparing to receive him, and great 
battles were expected. The Fourth Iowa was to have 
a hand in the contest. There was no delay — not a 
day. The next morning after the order was received, 
November 8th, election day, after the men had voted 
for "Lincoln and the vigorous prosecution of the 
war," the march began for Nashville. How difficult 
now to realize that, though the battle at Nashville 
was fought more than a month later, this column could 
not reach the field in time ! The line of march was 
very long, from Weber's Falls on the Arkansas, by 
way of Pea Ridge and Springfield, to Rolla and St. 
Louis, thence by railroad and river to Cairo and Louis- 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 419 

ville. The movement was much delayed by the freez- 
ing weather, the scarcity of forage, the extremely 
jaded condition of men and animals, and finally by 
the ice in the Mississippi and Ohio ; so that when the 
command reached Louisville the conflict between Hood 
and Thomas was over, the battles of Franklin and 
Nashville had been fought, and there was no enemy 
within Thomas' reach. 

Wilson's command was the "Cavalry Corps of the 
Military Division of the Mississippi." It comprised 
all the mounted troops of the Departments of the 
Ohio, the Cumberland, and the Tennessee, numbering 
in the aggregate about thirty thousand, though, for 
lack of good arms and serviceable horses, hardly twenty 
thousand were fairly equipped for the field. Fortu- 
nately for Winslow's brigade, it was as well armed and 
mounted as any brigade in the corps. 

Of the seven principal divisions of the Corps three 
were assigned to this campaign, the First, commanded 
by Brigadier-General Edward McCook, the Second, by 
Brigadier-General Eli Long, and the Fourth, by Brevet- 
Major-General Emory Upton. The Seventh Division, 
under General Knipe, had been sent in February, by 
steamers, down the Tennessee and the Mississippi, to 
join Canby in his operations against Mobile. The 
Sixth Division was left at Pulaski in Tennessee, for 
local operations, but two regiments were first taken 
from it and put into the Second Brigade of the Fourth 
Division. The Third and Fifth divisions being more 
deficient than the others in arms and horses, were 
further stripped to supply the chosen divisions, and 
remained at Nashville. Each of the three chosen divi- 
sions was composed of two brigades, of three or four 



420 STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 



regiments each ; and the whole force numbered about 
thirteen thousand five hundred men. But fifteen hun- 
dred of this number marched dismounted, as guard to 
the train, being men with good arms but without 
serviceable horses. These men were, however, mount- 
ed on captured animals before the campaign was far 
advanced. Nearly all the regiments were fully armed 
with the Spencer carbine. 

There were three batteries of four guns each, one 
attached to each division. Captain Beck's Eighteenth 
Indiana Battery was with the First Division, Captain 
Robinson's Chicago Board-of-Trade Battery with the 
Second, and Captain Rodney's Battery I of the Fourth 
United States Artillery with the Fourth. 

The brigades were organized as follows : In the 
First Division, the First Brigade, Brigadier-General 
John T. Croxton, was composed of the Eighth Iowa, 
Second Michigan, Sixth Kentucky, and First Tennes- 
see Cavalry, and the Fourth Kentucky Mounted Infan- 
try ; and the Second Brigade, Colonel Oscar H. La 
Grange, of the First Wisconsin, the Second and Fourth 
Indiana, and the Fourth and Seventh Kentucky Cav- 
alry, In the Second Division, the First Brigade, Colo- 
nel Abram O. Miller, was composed of four regiments 
of mounted infantry, the Seventeenth and Seventy-sec- 
ond Indiana, and the Ninety-eighth and One-hundred- 
and-twenty-third Illinois; and the Second Brigade, 
Colonel Robert H. G. Minty, of four regiments of cav- 
alry, the Fourth Michigan, the Seventh Pennsylvania, 
and Third and Fourth Ohio. In the Fourth Division^ 
the First Brigade, Brevet Brigadier-General Edward 
F. Winslow, was composed of the Third and Fourth 
Iowa and Tenth Missouri Cavalry; and the Second 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 421 

Brigade, Brevet Brigadier- General Andrew J. Alexan- 
der, of tlie First and Seventh Ohio and Fifth Iowa 
Cavalry. 

In Winslow's brigade the Third Iowa was com- 
manded by Colonel John W. Noble (now Secretary 
of the Interior), the Fourth Iowa by Lieutenant-Colo- 
nel John H. Peters, and the Tenth Missouri by Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Frederick W. Benteen ; and the three 
regiments numbered in the field about two thousand 
four hundred men and officers. 

But with much regret on the part of the other 
companies of the Fourth Iowa, Company G was 
detached for special service. At Gravelly Springs it 
was taken by General Upton as his escort, and through- 
out the campaign it served directly under him. It was 
commanded by its Captain, Alexander Rodgers, but 
both of its lieutenants were, in January, appointed on 
Upton's staff, First-Lieutenant Sloan Keck as aide-de- 
camp and Second-Lieutenant Peter K. Keck as acting 
ordnance-officer of the division and as aide-de-camp. 
The company and both the lieutenants had very active 
and distinguished service throughout the campaign. 

Our regiment was now extremely fortunate in its 
general commanders. The three generals, corps, divi- 
sion, and brigade, were all young men,^ of high spirit, 

' Wilson and Winslow 27 and Upton 25. Both Wilson and Upton were edu- 
cated at West Point, the former being captain of engineers and the latter captain 
of artillery in the regular army. Wilson was on the staff of Grant in the Vicks- 
burg and Chattanooga campaigns, in which he so distinguished himself as to gain 
the commission of brigadier-general of volunteers. He persistently and coura- 
geously exploited his belief in the capacity of cavalry, when it was the fashion 
among the generals to belittle that arm. He insisted that the treatment and 
management of cavalry were radically wrong ; and, being appointed head of the 
Cavalry Bureau at Washington early in 1864, he made practical application of 
his principles, so far as circumstances made it possible to do so, and soon 
achieved very encouraging results. But Sheridan wanted him in the field, and 



422 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

great courage, untiring energy, and all zealously of 
oj)inion tliat good soldiers are made only by careful 
and intelligent training, steady discipline, tlie best 
equipments, prompt promotion for merit, and manly 
j^ersonal treatment. Each of them was highly dis- 
tinguished in daring and successful campaigns in 1864, 
Wilson and Winslow in the cavalry and Upton in the 
artillery and infantry. Wilson, in command of the 
cavalry of Thomas' army in the great crash of arms 
with Hood, had made his troopers so terrible to the 
enemy that in the crisis of battle came Hood's despair- 
ing cry to Chalmers : " For God's sake drive back the 

in the summer of 1864 he took command of the Third Division of Sheridan's 
cavalry, and immediately made a raid around Lee's left to his rear, to the great 
consternation of the enemy and the great fame of the cavalry. He had demon- 
strated that cavalry, rightly managed, can go almost literally anywhere. His 
idea was, simply, that cavalry should be used in masses, and not in petty detach- 
ments scattered about an army of infantry, that the men should be used and 
treated as soldiers, and not merely as escorts, messengers, and foragers. In the 
autumn of 1864, when Thomas was to be left in charge of the field west of the 
Alleghanies, both Grant and Sherman heartily joined in designating Wilson as 
the man to command the cavalry. 

Upton's fame, though not as wide as Wilson's, was as high. He graduated at 
West Point just as the war broke out, immediately went to Washington to drill 
the volunteers, served on the staffs of generals the first year, became colonel of 
a New York regiment, fought in all the great battles of the Army of the Poto- 
mac for three years, always with the greatest spirit and courage, being several 
times wounded, and closed his career in the East by splendid service in Sheri- 
dan's battle at Winchester, where he reached the command of a division on the- 
field, covered it with glory, fell severely wounded, and won another promotion. 
When Wilson was given leave to choose his new division commanders, his first 
choice was Upton. 

Winslow had had no military education when he entered the army. He had 
been a bank clerk and had just begun a career as a " contractor" in the small 
railway-building then in progress in the West. He was of delicate constitution, 
but his intelligence and quick use of the lessons of experience supplied as far as 
possible the lack of scientific knowledge of war, and his remarkable energy and 
confident spirit more than made up for any delicacy of health. His natural 
qualities fitted him rarely for the army, perhaps especially for a cavalry 
commander. 



I 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 423 

Yankee cavalry, or all is lost ! " And Upton and 
Winslow, each in his last campaign, had won a gen- 
eral's star for gallantry and brilliant success on the 
field. 

The forces of the enemy available for defense were, 
as well as has been learned, as follows : Lieutenant- 
General Kichard Taylor, then in command of the Con- 
federate "Department of Alabama, Mississippi, and 
East Louisiana," who had relieved General Hood, at 
Tupelo, after his defeat by Thomas in December, was 
at Meridian, with an army of infantry and artillery ; 
but he had lately sent a portion of his troops to aid in 
the defense of Mobile. Forrest, who was now also a 
lieutenant-general, was in command of all the cavalry 
of Taylor's department. In March his headquarters 
were at West Point, Miss., immediately covering Me- 
ridian, but within reach of Tuscaloosa. He had small 
bodies or bands of mounted men in all the remoter 
parts of his department, but those under his immediate 
orders were now reorganized into three divisions, num- 
bering in the aggregate about thirteen thousand.^ His 
division commanders were Major-Generals James R. 
Chalmers, who had three brigades of Mississippians ; 
William H. Jackson, who had two brigades from Ten- 
nessee and a regiment from Texas; and Abraham 
Buford, who had four brigades of Alabamians and 
Kentuckians. The brigade generals were, some of 

' Jordan says, in his "Campaigns of Forrest," p. 657, that Forrest's depart- 
mental command embraced about ten thousand men, but later, p. 658, he- says 
that at the middle of March the effective men of Chalmers' division were four 
thousand five hundred and of Jackson's three thousand eight hundred. The 
number of Buford's is not given, but it contained four regular brigades. 
If Buford's brigades were of average strength with the others, Forrest had fifteen 
thousand men immediately in hand. If they averaged each one third less than 
the others, he still had twelve thousand five hundred. 



424 STOR Y OF A CA VALR V REGIMENT. 

them, well known to tlie Iowa cavalry in Mississippi 
campaigns, as Wirt Adams, Peter B. Starke, Frank C. 
Armstrong, and Tyree H. Bell. 

In February Taylor and Forrest were fully informed 
of Wilson's preparations and of the general purpose of 
Ms campaign ; and Forrest disposed his cavalry accord- 
ingly. Buford was posted at Montevallo. Chalmers 
and Jackson held the Tombigby and Black- Warrior 
rivers, covering Columbus on the left and Tuscaloosa 
on the right. Wirt Adams' brigade of Chalmers' 
division was left on the border of Mississippi, to guard 
the Mobile & Ohio railway ; but when the campaign 
approached its crisis Adams marched east into the 
Black Warrior Valley, and did effective service against 
one of Wilson's brigades then detached there. 

On the 16th of March Taylor and his division gen- 
erals held a council,^ in which they took it to be settled 
that the place first to be assaulted was Selma; and 
they laid their plans for its defense. They could then 
have concentrated at Montevallo or at Selma, within a 
few days, at least fifteen thousand men and forty guns. 
Yet, when the conflict came their forces were so dis- 
posed that they could nowhere get more than five 
thousand together for the defense of any position. 
This was the fortunate result of Wilson's plan of mis- 
leading his enemy by moving in strength on different 
roads. That method of marching, followed by the 
actual detachment of one brigade against Tuscaloosa, 
caused the rebels to keep their greater strength west 
of the Warrior and Cahawba rivers until Wilson, by 
bold and rapid marches, had got so near his goal that 
their concentration had become impracticable. 

' " Southern Hist. Soc. Papers," vol. vii., p. 485, 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 425 

The men of Winslow's brigade were in higli spirits, as, 
indeed, were their comrades of the whole command. 
The great successes of their late campaigns were fresh 
in their minds. They had found how much more 
effective they were with good arms than they had been 
with bad. They had proved in more than one cam- 
paign that cavalry, moving in an organized body of 
good size and operating independently of infantry, 
could do service worth recording in history, could do 
something infinitely better for their own fame than 
that hard, wearing, and thankless work in which they 
had been so much engaged, the scouting, reconnoitring, 
and skirmishing for armies of infantry. They had 
before them now an opportunity of repeating the Price 
campaign, with a larger force, better equipped, much 
better organized and managed, and in pursuit of grander 
objects. There was a feeling as of being at last freed 
from an unfair and ignorant restraint, as of being at 
last recognized as a distinct and effective arm of the 
service, capable of making a telling campaign as cavalry 
which could not be made by infantry. 

When the brigade arrived at Eastport from Louis- 
ville in mid-winter, as told in the last chapter, it was 
marched thence across the State line and put into 
camp near Gravelly Springs in Alabama. This camp 
was a part of the corps cantonment, which covered 
much of the space between Eastport and Gravelly 
Springs, along the north bank of the Tennessee. 
There had been long and heavy rains. The streams 
were all high, the ground everywhere veiy wet and 
soft, and the camp, in consequence, very disagreeable 
and uncomfortable. The rains continued with unwel- 
come frequency, though by the middle of March they 



426 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

had so far diminislied that the rivers began to recede, 
and the first part of the intended march being through 
a sandy hill country, on the 20th movement was found 
practicable. Between the 14th and 20th all the divi- 
sions crossed the river and went into bivouac on the 
southern side, ready to march the moment the roads 
would permit. The Fourth Iowa crossed at Chicka- 
saw, near its camp, on the 20th. 

While the cavalry was at Gravelly Springs it had 
practical proofs of the belief of its generals in the 
value of military training and discipline. The govern- 
ment of the corps was made step by step more careful 
and rigid. Infractions of discipline were promptly, 
and sometimes conspicuously, punished. Vacancies in 
offices were filled by appointment of those seen to be 
the most meritorious, though often to the great dis- 
satisfaction of the men of particular companies, who 
found it very hard to give up the " right," as they 
deemed it to be, of choosing their officers. All the 
men not actually on other duty were every day put 
through drills, inspections, and movements of instruc- 
tion, regardless of the bad weather. The closest 
attention was given to the care of the camps, horses, 
and equipments, although it was exceedingly difficult 
to keep them in good condition when the rain poured 
upon them nearly every day. It was hard work, and 
so much more strictly required than before that many 
found it very irksome. But all must have understood 
the object of this careful training, and must have 
appreciated its good results. They saw that it would 
have been far better for the regiment if it had had 
such schooling during the earlier periods of its 
service. 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 427 

One marked feature of this school period was the 
change in the tactics. When the regiment entered the 
army its instruction was based upon Scott's Tactics, 
a work which had been in use in the cavalry service 
more than twenty years. But General Scott's book 
was not used long by the volunteers. In their first 
year the War Department laid it aside and adopted 
General Cooke's. The difference between the two 
systems is wide, arising chiefly from the different for- 
mations of the line. Scott's line is formed in two 
ranks and Cooke's in one. The character of the evo- 
lutions is, of course, substantially the same in both 
systems, but the differences in detail are so great that 
a knowledge of the one system is not of much value in 
a study of the other. For three years the regiment 
liad been working under the Cooke system, and many 
of the men, enlisted after the regiment took the field, 
had never had any instruction under Scott's. The 
reason for the change was in the fact that in the 
wooded and hilly country in which the troops were to 
operate a continuous line of any length was impracti- 
cable. A brigade of twenty-four hundred mounted 
men (and several of the brigades were as large as 
that) in single rank, allowing the proper intervals, 
would be more than a mile and a half long ; and to 
get a corps, or even a division, into a single line, in 
position for practicable operation, would be rarely, if 
ever, possible. 

But General Wilson went no further under the old 
system than to require the double-rank formation in 
mounted movements. The single rank was retained in 
dismounted operations, and it happened that nearly all 
the fighting of the campaign was done dismounted, so 



428 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



that tlie men were surprised and gratified to find that 
in actual combat they were ordered according to their 
accustomed methods. 

The drilling and instruction were varied a little, 
however, by the familiar service of scouting. Several 
detachments were sent out, at different times, in differ- 
ent directions. One, under Captain Abraham of the 
Fourth Iowa, composed of two hundred men, half from 
the Fourth and half from the Third Iowa, was absent 
several days, marched as far as Florence, Ala., and 
brought back fifty-six prisoners and many captured 
animals. 

At last, on the 20th of March, as has been said, the 
rivers were falling and the roads were drying. At 
dawn of the 2 2d the three divisions were in the saddle 
and the campaign was begun. 

Every man carried five days' light rations, one hun- 
dred cartridges, two extra horse-shoes and eight nails, 
with two days' grain for horses. On pack-mules were 
placed five days' hard bread and ten days' sugar, coffee, 
and salt ; and there was a small wagon-train carrying 
eighty rounds more of cartridges, twenty days' sugar 
and salt, and forty-five days' coffee. The food was 
assigned for sixty days, and any lack was to be sup- 
plied by that process which seems rather indefinite in 
words, but is well defined in the mind of the experi- 
enced trooper — "living on the country." The small 
allowance of bread and grain was intended to provide 
only for the march through the northern part of Ala- 
bama, a region very J30or at the best, and now wasted 
by two years of war within its borders. 

Fifty of the wagons carried a light pontoon equip- 
ment of thirty canvas boats. 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 429 

All the divisions moved in a southeasterly direction, 
on two roads, Long and McCook taking the road by 
Cherokee Station and Frankfort, while Upton moved 
on their left toward Russellville and Jasper. It was 
Wilson's plan to move in two columns, on different 
roads, with a view to disconcert the enemy, mislead 
him as to the objective point, and prevent his massing 
his forces. The plan succeeded perfectly. Upton's 
division moved rapidly, the weather being fine and the 
roads dry, passing by Barton to Throgmorton's Mill. 
Near the latter place Winslow's brigade camped the 
first night. The next day the march of the division 
left Russellville on the right. Long and McCook not 
having come up, and brought it in the evening, without 
any special incident, to Newburg, where it went into 
camp. On the 24th Winslow's brigade moved sepa- 
rately fi'om Alexander's, through a very rough and 
difiacult country, by way of Kinlock, until it reached 
the wild and picturesque Sipsey Creek. This was 
crossed on a high and shaky bridge, and the brigade 
bivouacked near Hubbard's Mill. On the 25th the 
march was down the Sipsey Valley, though the hills 
were so bold and near each other that there could 
hardly be said to be a valley. The country was cov- 
ered by an interminable pine forest, without settle- 
ments, but two cabins being passed within thirty 
miles. Alexander's brigade rejoined Winslow's that 
day, and both camped at Clear Creek, on the Jasper 
road. The next day the brigades again parted, Win- 
slow's moving to Bartonville and Hanly's Mill, east of 
Jasper, toward Eiyton. It was intended to cross the 
Sipsey again, and then, moving eastward, the Mulberry 
River, the western fork of the Black Warrior ; but 



430 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

there was no bridge over the Sipsey, and the stream 
was too swift and deep for fording. The brigade 
moved down its west side, to the Mulberry, then to 
the mouth of the Blackwater, crossed the Blackwater 
there after dark and by a very difficult ford, and 
camped at Burnham's Ford on the Mulberry. Burn- 
ham's Ford was a long and dangerous one. All the 
next day, from dawn till night, was spent in efforts to 
improve it and in getting the horses over. For the 
pack-train a raft had to be built, which was floated 
back and forth by the use of ropes. 

The next object was the crossing of the Locust, the 
eastern fork of the Black Warrior, twentv miles ahead. 
All the streams of the region were already high, from 
recent rains, and it was again raining heavily and 
steadily. There was reason to fear that the Locust 
might become impassable. The men had hardly got 
their camp-fires lighted in the wet woods, after crossing 
the Mulberry, when " Boots and Saddles ! " was sound- 
ed and the march was resumed. . There was never so 
dark a night as that. It rained heavily and constantly. 
It poured. The tread of the horses was an unceasing 
splashing in mud and water. All the night was spent 
in making the distance of twenty miles, and it was day- 
break when the head of the brigade reached the Locust. 
The river was full and swift, and rapidly rising. A 
short halt, for the examination of the ford and for vol- 
unteers to try it, and the head of the column went in. 
But the passage was found to be not so difficult nor so 
dangerous as that of the Mulberry. The brigade was 
all over by noon ; and during the afternoon it made 
twenty miles farther, to Elyton, going into bivouac 
west of that village, at Hawkins' plantation, the first 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 431 

farm of any importance seen since the march began. 
Large quantities of bacon and corn were stored there. 
The rough and barren mountain country was behind ; 
the army was in the border of a land of plenty. 

It seems a grave mistake on the part of the enemy, 
that they did not resist Wilson in this mountain region. • 
His divisions were separated, and, owing to the topog- 
raphy of the country, it would have been difficult or 
impracticable to bring either to the support of another; 
the roads were often very narrow and difficult, the 
streams were numerous and to be crossed only by fords, 
which were usually dangerous and always far apart; 
and the passes between the hills were sometimes capa- 
ble of very easy and effective defense by small forces. 
An intelligent and determined campaign of resistance 
in this country would certainly have gained much 
time, and might have been wholly victorious ; but 
Wilson's divisions spent a week in marching through 
it, without a skirmish. 

Winslow's brigade had not yet seen the enemy, but 
Alexander's had just reached his rear at Elyton ; and 
a little earlier the column had passed a position which 
had been recently fortified and was naturally very 
strong, but which was abandoned without defense. 

On the 29th Upton's division was delayed a few 
hours, waiting, for the train to come up, but got off 
before noon, and marched rapidly toward the Cahawba 
River. The iron and coal region of Alabama was 
entered. Here the enemy had thrown up extended 
lines of fortification, to protect their iron-making estab- 
lishments; but they were all deserted upon the ap- 
proach of the Yankees. This day the Third and Fourth 
Iowa reached and destroyed, by fire and explosion, the 



432 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

first of the iron-making plants, the Mcllvain and Med- 
Mountain. It still rained heavily, and when the Ca- 
hawba was reached, late in the afternoon, that river 
was very high. The rebels had just ceased their busy 
labor of felling large trees into the ford and into the 
•road descending to the water. It is far easier to do 
that kind of work than it is to undo it; and, after 
great labor and difficulty throughout the night, only 
one regiment, one of Alexander's, was over. The re- 
mainder of that brigade bivouacked on the north 
bank. 

Arriving at the ford in the night and finding Alex- 
ander's brigade thus delayed, Winslow sent out scout- 
ing parties, to learn where the railway, which had 
been observed along our left during the day, crossed 
the river. The crossing was found a few miles farther 
down, near Hillsborough. Winslow at once moved 
his brigade there and occupied the position. There 
was a "lattice" bridge, high, with long trestle-work 
approaches at each end, and the whole built of wood. 
The roadway was open between the ties, as is usual in 
railway bridges, but, fortunately, some new cross-ties 
were found near the track on our side of the river. 
Winslow sent a report to Upton, but, without waiting 
for orders, put to work as many men as possible, tear- 
ing up the iron rails and laying the new cross-ties be- 
tween those already down, so as to make of all a close 
floor. Every one was eager to get over, and as soon as 
daylight had overcome the thick clouds and rain so 
far as to allow the men to see to walk on the ties the 
work was begun. The strongest men were in front, 
as many as the space would permit, loosening and 
throwing off the rails with improvised tools, while the 



THE LAST CAMPAIGN. 433 

roadway was filled witli a close procession of men in 
rubber blankets, hurrying up with the spare ties and 
returning for more. It was in the dull, slaty light of 
early morning in a driving rain — the swollen, rushing 
river, the high, narrow bridge, the surrounding dark 
forest, the two thousand horses and the unemployed 
men standing in silence while the men employed 
pushed their work with nervous energy, the sharp 
orders of officers, with anxious outlook in fear that 
the enemy would appear on the opposite bank before 
the last ties were laid — the scene is one that must 
still be very distinct in the memory of all who were 
there. Within a few hours the bridge was finished 
with a floor eight feet wide and three hundred yards 
long, and the advanced companies, in single file, were 
carefully leading over their trembling horses. 

General Upton came up while the troopers were 
crossing, and was surprised and delighted to find that 
the passage which he had expected to be very difficult 
was so rapidly made. Alexander's brigade immedi- 
ately followed, and, the train, having been left behind, 
the division moved swiftly toward Montevallo, the 
Fourth Iowa leading. The same day the two other 
divisions crossed the Cahawba by this converted 
railway bridge (the ford they had attempted having 
become quite impassable), and followed Upton's, but 
did not move so rapidly. 

The heavy rains and swollen streams had made the 
movement of the column slower than had been calcu- 
lated, and Wilson was now anxious to reach Montevallo 
before the enemy could prepare for a strong defense 
there. He therefore on the 29th determined to leave 

the train behind, between the Warrior rivers, under 
28 



434 STOJi Y OF A CA VALR V REGIMENT. 

a strong guard, and pusli the fighting men forward as 
fast as possible. To cover the train in this position 
and at the same time to develop the strength of the 
forces which the enemy might be able to move against 
him from the west, he detached Croxton's brigade of 
McCook's division with orders to march upon Tusca- 
loosa, take the city, destroy all public stores and build- 
ings, bridges and factories, and rejoin the main column, 
by way of Centreville, near Selma. Croxton executed 
his orders fully, but was unable to rejoin the corps, 
because of the strength of the enemy in his front 
(Jackson's division and Wirt Adams' brigade), and 
was compelled to carry on a separate campaign, which 
was entirely successful and remarkably picturesque. 

Very soon after crossing the Cahawba bridge, the 
Fourth Iowa found rebel cavalry in front, but ap- 
parently not in force ; and those seen kept carefully 
at long range. Chalmers' division was believed to be 
hurrying to the defense of Montevallo. No time was 
lost, although detachments were dropped out of the 
column to destroy several iron-works and collieries 
which were in operation near the line of march. 

An officer of the Fourth Iowa that afternoon found 
and arrested at the front a man in citizen's dress, who, 
on being questioned, told so important a story that he 
was sent to General Winslow, who sent him to Greneral 
Upton. He said that his name was Millington, that he 
was an Englishman and a civil engineer, and that he 
had been employed in the planning and construction 
of the fortifications of Selma. He drew on the ground 
a plan of the works, showing them extending in two 
lines around the city, in the form of the arc of a circle, 
the Alabama River being the chord ; and he told with 



MONTEVALLO TAKEN. 435 



intelligence and clearness liow it was intended to make 
the defense of tlie works, and what the means of de- 
fense were. It looked very formidable, and he thought 
cavalry could not possibly take the place. The " well- 
drawn sketch and complete description of the defenses 
of Selma " spoken of in General Wilson's report were 
obtained from this man, and were of great value in de- 
termining the plan of attack upon Selma. 

At about four o'clock the enemy, having been driven 
all day, became stubborn and seemed disposed to make 
a stand. They were of Buford's division, from the bri- 
gades of Roddey and Daniel Adams. The Fourth Iowa 
being in front, Colonel Peters sent Major Woods with 
two companies (F and L) to make a circuit to the left 
and come up on the enemy's flank. Woods had a skir- 
mish on his way, in which he had one man wounded ; 
but before he could reach his intended position the 
rebels fell back, and the remainder of the regiment 
drove them at high speed into and beyond Montevallo. 

Large quantities of corn and other stores were found 
at Montevallo, and earthworks showing that it had been 
intended to defend the place. Upton's division camped 
in the town, and the next morning awaited there the 
coming up of the First and Second divisions, being 
employed meantime in destroying as much of the cap- 
tured supplies as could not be used by our troops. 
Detachments were sent out from both brigades during 
the day, to destroy iron-works and a rolling-mill near. 
On one of these errands Colonel Benteen was sent with 
the Tenth Missouri. His objective was the Bihh iron- 
Avorks, a large establishment a few miles south of 
Montevallo. A regiment of the enemy was found on 
guard there, detached from Roddey's brigade for the 



436 STOR Y OF A CA VALR V REGIMENT. 

purpose, but the Tenth Missouri at once attacked, 
gained possession of the works, and destroyed them in 
the face of the enemy. The division had now de- 
stroyed, at different places, four iron-making establish- 
ments, the Med-Mountairiy Mcllvain^ Bihh, Central^ 
and Columbiana, with a rolling-mill, the CaJiawha, all 
in the service of the Confederate government, and five 
collieries. 

About noon, and while the First and Second divisions 
were arriving at Montevallo, the enemy attacked the 
picket on the Selma road, south of the town. General 
Wilson, just then arrived, ordered Upton to move his di- 
vision out at once, which was done. Alexander's brigade 
was in advance, and soon met the rebels, charged them 
with great spirit, and drove them steadily to Six-mile 
Creek, killing, wounding, and capturing a considerable 
number. It was learned that the enemy in front were 
Roddey's and Crossland's brigades, and that Forrest 
was commanding in person. In this affair Company 
G, of the Fourth Iowa, Upton's escort, was engaged, 
and Lieutenant Peter R. Keck, of that company, then 
acting on Upton's staff, so distinguished himself, even 
after his horse was killed under him, that he was 
recommended for promotion by Upton for gallant con- 
duct on the field. 

Winslow's brigade, which had been kept closed up on 
Alexander's, was ordered to pass to the front. The 
Tenth Missouri led the brigade, under Colonel Ben- 
teen, and found the enemy in a strong position on the 
crest of a hill. Along the foot of the hill in their 
front and across the road ran a creek. Its banks were 
steep and miry, and it was passable only by a bridge 
which stood directly in front of the enemy's position. 



FORREST RESISTS THE MARCH. 437 

Fortunately this was seen before the rebels were all 
over the bridge, and by a bold dash Ben teen pre- 
vented them from destroying it. His regiment was 
then immediately dismounted, hurried over the bridge, 
and concealed in the thicket extending along the 
stream. The Third Iowa, under Noble, in column of 
fours, was brought up near the bridge and kept 
mounted. The Fourth Iowa was in the rear, being 
the rear-guard of the division that day. Kodney's 
guns were opened upon the enemy's position, and the 
Tenth Missouri moved forward up the slope, led by 
the gallant Benteen on foot, the men sheltering and 
concealing themselves as much as possible until they 
got quite near the enemy's line, when they rose and 
rushed forward, with their favorite " yell " and with 
rapid firing. This was the signal for the Third Iowa, 
which at once rode over the bridge, deployed at a gal- 
lop, and charged with drawn sabres. The rebels broke 
and fell back in confusion, losing many men, arms, and 
equipments.* Winslow, who was with the Third Iowa 
iu their charge, seeing that the enemy's lines were 
broken by the first companies, checked the rear com- 
panies, but the eager men in front pursued the rebels 
to and across a creek about four miles beyond the 
place where the charge was made. 

The daring movement of the Tenth Missouri on this 
occasion and the spirited charge of the Third Iowa 
excited great admiration in the division. But the 
Fourth Iowa was also to have an opportunity. The 
brigade had hardly begun to move forward again in 
the road, after the affair just described, when the 

' Crossland's brigade lost one hundred here. Jordan's " Campaigns of For- 
rest," p. 663. 



438 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

rebels made a flank attack, a thing Forrest was much 
given to. The head of the Fourth Iowa had just 
passed Six-mile Creek, and was at the foot of the hill 
which rises from the south bank. Immediately in its 
front marched Rodney's battery of the Fourth United 
States Artillery, which occupied the road all the way 
up the hill and for some distance along its top. At 
the top of the hill the road made a considerable turn 
to the left, and the head of the battery column had 
passed around the bend. Upton and Winslow had 
gone on, and were with the advanced regiment. Sud- 
denly firing was heard in front of the Fourth Iowa, on 
the right flank of the battery. The artillerymen were 
seen in confusion. As it was known that the enemy 
had been beaten, and were being driven in front of 
the division column, this firing on the flank near the 
rear of the column could not be understood. Colonel 
Peters and another officer rode up the hill to learn 
what was the matter, and at the top they saw at once, 
without having to ask any questions. There was a 
body of rebel cavalry in the woods close on the right 
flank. They had chosen the best point of attack, at 
the bend in the road, and were now firing briskly on 
the broken artillery column. They were very near, a 
party of officers showing themselves within easy pistol- 
shot. Colonel Peters at once ordered up the Third 
Battalion, Major Dee leading it at the head of the regi- 
ment, and also the three companies of the First Bat- 
talion, under Captain Abraham, next following. The 
Second Battalion was then in the rear of the pack- 
train, half a mile or more farther back on the road. 
The seven companies galloped up, instantly dismounted 
in line, and advanced with great spirit and with a ring- 



DEFEATING A FLANK ATTACK. 439 

ing fire from their Spencers. The rebels fell back in 
disorder to a railway embankment. This was in a 
very good position for defense, and they made a stand 
behind it, dismounting a part of their men to fire from 
shelter along its crest ; but the advance was not halted 
a moment. The line was upon the embankment and 
over it in a time hardly longer than is taken in telling 
it ; and the rebels broke and fled on their horses. The 
pursuit was continued a mile or more, when an aide 
from Winslow arrived, with an order requiring the 
regiment to proceed immediately to the front on the 
road. The companies then returned to the road, 
mounted, and hurried forward.^ The enemy lost five 
killed and many wounded and captured. In the Fourth 
Iowa there were none killed and but five wounded.' 

It was an eventful day in the Fourth Division. All 
the regiments had been engaged, each had had an 
opportunity to charge, and everywhere there was com- 
plete success. General Upton said in his report that 
they had " ridden down the enemy in every conflict 
during the day," while Winslow wrote, " I have no 
doubt that the manner in which this day's work was 
done tended much to render our subsequent victories 
the easier achieved," and Wilson, " The gallantry of 
men and ofiicers had been most conspicuous throughout 
the day, and had resulted already in the establishment 
of a moral supremacy for the corps." 

' The number of the enemy engaged here was difficult to determine, owing to 
their concealment in the woods as far as possible, but there appeared to be three 
or four hundred. From a prisoner's statement they were from Crossland's 
brigade ; but Jordan describes an attack made in the same manner and at or 
near the same place and time, by Forrest in person with his escort. Jordan's 
" Campaigns of Forrest," p. 663. But Jordan mentions circumstances which did 
not occur in the affair here described, and which were indeed impossible. 

* See Appendix : " Engagements and Casualties." 



440 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



The division camped that night near Randolph, in 
excellent condition, and with a deepened interest in 
the absorbing subject, the intended attack upon Selma. 
It was now forty-five miles distant, and would be 
reached within two days, if there should be no great 
delay. Everybody saw that its capture was a great 
undertaking, but nobody thought of it as of a thing 
that could not be done. Every man seemed to feel 
that it would be done. A spirit of great cheerfulness 
and confidence was established throughout the army. 

Early next morning, the 1st of April, the corps 
moved on, in close order, through Randolph, Upton's 
division there turning to the east, on the Maplesville 
road, while Long's division and LaGrange's brigade 
of McCook's kept the main road to Selma. By de- 
spatches found on a cornier taken by Upton, Wilson 
was informed of the present disposition of the rebel 
forces, and at the same time he had news of the other 
brigade of McCook's division (Croxton), which was 
now occupied with Jackson's division, near Trion, try- 
ing to prevent it from joining Forrest. Thereupon 
Wilson ordered McCook, with LaGrange's brigade, 
westward to Centreville, to take and hold the bridge 
over the Cahawba there, and then to move against 
Jackson, break up his force, form a junction with 
Croxton, and bring the whole division down the Selma 
road. At the same time he directed Long and Upton 
to push on toward Selma, to drive Forrest as rapidly 
as possible and give him no time to breathe or gather 
his forces in front. Both divisions found rebels in 
front, and kept up very lively skirmishing until they 
reached Ebenezer Church, where the two roads on 
which the divisions were marching converged. 



THE BATTLE OF EBENEZER CHURCH. 441 

Here Forrest made a stand with all the force he 
could collect, cavalry and artillery, with a reinforcement 
of infantry from Selma. General Long reached the 
position first, and attacked at once with his advance. 
He first threw a battalion, mounted, against Roddey's 
brigade, broke it, and produced such confusion that 
Forrest's utmost efforts in person were required to 
save his line. 

This battalion, numbering two hundred, was from 
the Seventeenth Indiana, and was led by Lieutenant- 
Colonel Frank White. It charged mounted, with 
sabres, and got literally into the midst of the rebels, 
was surrounded on all sides, and every man in it had 
to fight at his best. The rebels, magnifying the num- 
ber of their assailants, brought all their artillery and 
most of their troops into the action. Colonel White 
especially sought to capture a battery at the junction 
of the roads, and he did reach it, but could not hold 
it against the odds. He wheeled and cut his way 
out, but with heavy loss. Captain Taylor, who com- 
manded one of the companies, singled out Forrest, 
and fought him face to face, reckless of the fire of 
other rebels. Forrest was wounded, but the daring 
Taylor was killed. When White's men reached the 
guns their impetus was so great that they rode right 
over them, and one of the guns was dismounted by a 
horse striking it with such force as to break one of 
the wheels to pieces. The horse was killed by the 
blow, and the rebels say that when his rider was 
thrown he was immediately killed by one of the gun- 
ners with a handspike. 

Meantime, Upton, having a longer road, but antici- 
pating an opportunity to flank the enemy at the 



442 STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

junction of the roads, had hastened his march. Alex- 
ander's brigade was in front, and reached the enemy 
before Long could get into position to support the 
charge of White. Hearing the noise of White's fight- 
ing on his right, and supposing it to mean that Long 
was engaged there in force, Alexander advanced at 
high speed until the right of Forrest's line was de- 
veloped. This line was formed on the south side 
of Bogler's Creek, and extended from Mulberry Creek 
westward, across the Selma road, at least a mile, to 
a high, rough ridge, which fell away abruptly on the 
west to Bogler's Creek. The greater part of its length 
ran through thick woods, and it was strengthened by 
slashings of trees and barricades of rails. Six guns 
were planted at the junction of the roads, four bearing 
upon Long's advance and two upon Upton's. The 
men were, of course, dismounted, and every prepara- 
tion was made for a decisive engagement. Forrest 
meant, at the least, to check Wilson and hold him 
long enough to enable Jackson and Chalmers to cross 
the Cahawba and join him. Forrest's biographer says 
that he had here scarcely fifteen hundred men,^ but he 
admits three of Forrest's cavalry brigades, Roddey, 
Dan Adams, and Crossland, with a force of infantry 
from Selma which in different Confederate reports 
appears as a regiment and a battalion. If there were 
but fifteen hundred, the cavalry brigades must have 
averaged only four hundred men each, while in his 
other divisions Forrest's brigades at that time aver- 
aged sixteen hundred men each.^ Consider that incon- 
sistency with the length of his line in position and the 

' Jordan's " Campaigns of Forrest," p. 665. 
* The same, pp. 657, 658. 



THE BA TTLE OF EBENEZER CHURCH. 443 

persistent habit of tlie Confederates in minimizing 
their numbers, and it seems probable that Forrest had 
in this engagement nearer four thousand than fifteen 
hundred men. 

Finding that he had reached the enemy's main line, 
Alexander deployed two regiments to his right, the 
Fifth Iowa and First Ohio, intending to connect with 
Long's left, dismounted them, and immediately ad- 
vanced. The battle was fierce and close,^ but the 
infantry on the rebel extreme right soon broke and 
fell back on the Selma road. The veteran dismounted 
cavalry held on for half an hour. As soon as Upton 
could get Alexander's brigade out of the way, he 
ordered up two regiments of Winslow's to attack on 
Alexander's left. The two regiments happened to be 
the Third and Fourth Iowa, the Third in front. They 
galloped forward in column, and reached the scene 
just as the rebels were finally giving way under Alex- 
ander's splendid assault. The Third Iowa, led by 
Noble, succeeded in striking their flank, and had a 
sharp conflict with a body of them who attempted 
a stand, losing several men wounded and a number of 
horses. Then Forrest's defeat became a confused 
flight, and the Third and Fourth Iowa pursued him to 
Plantei'sville, two hundred prisoners falling into the 
hands of the Third on the way. Two guns, about one 
hundred killed and wounded, and about one hundred 
prisoners were his losses to Alexander, and Forrest 
himself was wounded, while Long gained the gun 
which had been dismounted in White's fierce charge 
and thirty prisoners. Company G of the Fourth Iowa, 

' In one company, C of thQ Seventh Ohio, every man was killed, wounded, 
or had bullets through his clothes. 



444 STOE Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

then witli Upton, took part in this battle, and was 
highly praised by the General for its very prompt and 
spirited action ; and Captain Clark of the Fourth 
Iowa, then serving on Winslow's staff, distinguished 
himself in the attack made by the Third Iowa. 

While these vigorous blows were being given, 
McCook and LaGrange were riding at a trot toward 
Centreville, forty miles west of Randolph. With their 
one brigade they were to effect a junction with Crox- 
ton, whose immediate enemy then greatly outnum- 
bered him, or at least prevent that enemy from crossing 
the Cahawba to join Forrest. They occupied Centre- 
ville, crossed the Cahawba, and advanced on the 
Tuscaloosa road until they met the enemy. There, at 
Scottsboro, they had a severe skirmish, and learned 
from prisoners that they were confronted by Jackson's 
division, and that Croxton had the day before, after 
fighting with Jackson, retreated to the north, toward 
Elyton. McCook thereupon moved back over the 
river, and destroyed the bridge behind him, thus pre- 
venting Jackson from crossing in time to join Forrest 
in the defense of Selma. This brigade did not reach 
the corps again until the 6th, after Selma had fallen. 

Winslow's brigade was stopped at Plantersville at 
dark, the remainder of the corps came up, and all went 
into bivouac around that village. The corps was held 
close in hand, for the next day it must move upon 
Selma. Twenty-five miles it had marched that day, 
fighting for the road nearly all the way. 

It is the morning of Sunday, the 2d of April, and 
Selma is only seventeen miles ahead. The men are 
called before daybreak. With unusual care the 
preparations for battle are made. Arms, horses, and 



CA VALR V A GAINS T FOR TIFICA TIONS. 445 

equipments are looked to very closely. All servants, 
non-combatants, and led animals are sent to tlie rear. 
The column is stripped of every impediment, like a 
race-horse. The sun is not yet risen when the troops 
are mounted and in the road, in a compact column of 
fours. Everything is in order. The men are very 
quiet. They talk less than usual, and in lower tones. 
Everybody expects a bloody contest. The savage 
Forrest is at bay, and will fight behind fortifications. 
The prospect is that every man will be a part of this 
battle and will have plenty to do. 

Long's division is in front, and Upton's does not 
move till about nine o'clock. The march is on the 
Planters ville road, directly toward Selma. Mile after 
mile is passed. Ten miles are gone, and the skirmish- 
line not yet engaged. What does it mean ? The 
generals could, perhaps, form a better Judgment, but 
the men had expected another battle before the works 
were reached. But neither generals nor men knew 
then how much discouraged the enemy were by their 
reverses and their failure to understand the double 
movement of Wilson's divisions. They did not know 
that Forrest had given up hope of success in the field, 
and had hurried into the fortifications. He offers no 
further resistance outside, except by skirmishers, who 
steadily retire. At about two o'clock the column is 
within six miles of the city. Long's division is then 
moved off westward, to take the road from Summer- 
field to Selma, while Upton's continues on the Planters- 
ville road. Winslow's brigade is in the front of the 
division, and the Fourth Iowa in the front of the 
brigade. It happens to be this day the turn of the Sec- 
ond Battalion to lead the regiment, and it is in its place, 



446 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

led by its gallant major, Woods. His orders are to 
drive tlie rebel skirmishers without stopping until they 
enter the fortifications. 

It is well worthy of note here, as showing the zeal 
and faithful service of this regiment, that not only were 
the major and all the captains of this battalion in the 
field and at their posts on this campaign, but all the 
field and staff officers (except Major Pierce, then in the 
hospital from a wound received in battle), and all the 
captains and very nearly all the lieutenants of the 
regiment were there too. Any one who has been 
engaged in active campaign will know that this is not 
a common record. 

Selma comes into view at two miles' distance. The 
Union troopers look dovni upon it from a low plateau. 
Every heart is tense with suppressed emotion. In this 
scene, so beautiful in the soft sunlight of a spring after- 
noon, there will soon be a fearful change. Of the fierce 
conflict that will come the assailants must think, not 
merely whether it will be victory or defeat, but whether 
victory or ruin. They know how small is their chance 
of safety if they fail, for the enemy's divisions are 
behind as well as in front, and hundreds of miles 
separate them from the nearest friendly line. 

It is a small city, on the north bank of the Alabama. 
The open plain upon which it stands extends two or 
three miles from the river northward, to the foot of the 
plateau on which the invaders stand. The city is 
reached, on the north side of the river, by four princi- 
pal roads. The Burnsville road runs in from the east, 
near the river and substantially parallel with it. The 
Plantersville road (which, near Selma, becomes the 
Range Line road) runs in southerly, the Summerfield 






■^^'x-ov^Oc^-fiL^-: 




LFORD HOUSE'-- 
'NT£0- 




XA/VDERS Bl 



',ADE 

TED 



PROFILE. OF l,'/./ff.tV 
PROFILE ^or IT0Z4- 



NTATION 




PBOFILF OF ^TOCKAOEO 
RIFLE-PITS 

U/VEor C0NT,NUOU5PARfP^-r5 




^■■^I'U.S.CAV. 

VIOUNTUD 

l^il' RODNEY'S BATT'-.R 
PLATTENBE 



/0™MiSSOUfl/ 

"^lOWA, 

D/sMouivrco 

OP 4-^'' I OWA' ^-wr., 
i DISMOUNTED ' ^.^ 

^nc7i Crec 



M\i, 



\ 



"^ aMII*. 




Nos I to IV, inner line, of heavy works, 
not yet completed. One 30-pounder 
Parrott captured in action in ^o i. 
Nos I to =4, outer line, lighier ^;;o^^-. !"' 
tirely stUaded, bastions with flanking 
redans for field-guns, 77 embrasures, 3. 
guns captured in position. 
a. Prison Pen. 
h. Arsenal. 
c. Nitre Works. 
d N'aval Foundry. 

C S A. Foundry for Castings. 
■ '■ .1 " for Shot and 

Shells. „ I 

c C. S. A. Foundry for Cars. ^/i^_ 
h, i. Warehouses. 
;•, k, klk. Railway Repair Shops. 
/, /. Engine-houses. 
„/, w. Railway Stations. 
«. CoalShutes. 
0. Barracks. 
^. Powder Mills. 
^. Powder Magazine. 

r. Pontoon. 
(This map is drawn cln^fly 
„.ade soon after the battle by C 

E.Noyes,2dU.S. Cav.) 




^^;^ 







'^1/LC 



CAPTURE OF i 
APRIL 2, 1 



/, //, ///, / 1^ 



TO Z4-- 



LINE of C0NTffVUOU5 PARAPF-TS 
UNEoF ST0CH/iD£O RIFLE-PIT^ 







Nos. I to IV, inner line, of heavy works, 
not yet completed. One 30-pounder 
Parrott captured in action in No. I. 
Nos. I to 24, outer line, lighter works, en- 
tirely stockaded, bastions with flanking 
redans for field-guns, 77 embrasures, 31 
guns captured in position. 

a. Prison Pen. 

b. Arsenal. _ 

c. Nitre Works. \ 

d. Naval Foundry. ^ 
e. C. S. A. Foundry for Castings.* 

y; " " for Shot an" 

Shells. 
g. C. S. A. Foundry for Cars. 
h, !. Warehouses. 
/-, k, k, k. Railway Repair Shops. 
/, /. Engine-houses. 
/«, in. Railway Stations. 
«. Coal Shutes. 
0. Barracks. 
/. Powder Mills. 
q. Powder Magazine. ' 
r. Pontoon. 
(This map is drawn chiefly 
made soon after the l)attle by C. 
F,. Noyes, 2d U. S. Cav.) 



OVC M/LE. 



CAPTURE OF : 
APRIL 2, 1 



CA VALR V A GAINST FOR TIFICA TIONS. 447 

I'oad southeasterly, and the roads from Marion and 
Cahawba, joining within a mile of the city, enter 
directly from the west, by a bridge over Mill Creek. 
At the points where the Range Line and Summerfield 
roads enter the outer fortifications, they are a mile or 
more apart. Half a mile west of the Summerfield 
road, and parallel with it, runs Mill (or Valley) Creek, 
which falls into the river a mile below the city. This 
creek is deep and has boggy borders, in itself almost a 
sufficient defense against attack from the west. 

Extended and heavy fortifications have been built 
around the city. One line of continuous works stretches 
entirely around it, a distance of over four miles from 
the river above to the river at the mouth of Mill Creek 
below. Twenty-four bastions, constructed to mount 
from one to three guns each, stand at intervals, con- 
nected by heavy entrenchments and redans, so as to 
form a solid line. The ramparts are from eight to 
twelve feet high and from ten to fifteen feet thick at 
the base. That portion of this line which occupies the 
space from the Range Line road eastward over the 
Burnsville road to the river is built lighter than 
the remainder, because it is fronted by almost continu- 
ous swamps. Through the swamps, roughly parallel 
with the line of the works, runs a stream called Bench 
Creek. This creek takes its rise in another marsh 
lying between the Range Line and Summerfield roads. 
At this season it is impracticable for horses at all 
places, but there are bridges on the Burnsville and 
Range Line roads. In and about the marshy parts of 
the ground between the Range Line and Summerfield 
roads are several thickets and groves, affording oppor- 
tunities for concealing bodies of advancing troops ; but 



448 STOR Y OF A CA VALE Y REGIMENT. 

the ground for six or eight hundred yards next east of 
the Summerfield road is entirely open and is drained 
well enough to be practicable for a charge against 
the works. 

The fortifications are earthworks, fronted by wide, 
deep ditches, partly filled with water. The ditches 
are perfectly enfiladed from the bastions. Along the 
counterscarp of the bastions and ramparts and along 
the parapets of the rifle pits is planted a line of sharp- 
ened palisades. Within this line of works, midway 
between it and the outer streets of the town, is another 
line not yet finished. There are four heavy redoubts 
or bastions for large guns, standing at intervals so as 
to command the several roads, but connecting curtains 
have been as yet only partly finished. All these works 
have been constructed with the best engineering skill 
and with great care. There are thirty-two guns in 
position upon them, so mounted that their fire can be 
concentrated upon either of the roads. Three of them 
are mounted in a bastion on the outer line, just west of 
the Range Line road, upon which the Fourth Iowa is 
approaching. Directly behind this battery, on one of 
the inner bastions, in a similar position as to the Range 
Line road, is mounted one of the big guns of the 
defense, a 30-pounder Parrott. 

The defenses are held by six or seven thousand men, 
under Lieutenant-Greneral Taylor, with Forrest second 
in command. Most of their troops have had much 
experience.^ 

' The two sides have differed widely as to the number of men who held the 
defenses of Selma. The belief of the Union generals was (and the army re- 
mained there a week after the capture) that there were about seven thousand. 
Confederate officers and writers have, since the war, given the number as very 
small, a " mere handful," a " few small regiments of home-guards and militia," 



CA VALR Y A GAINST FOR TIFICA TIONS. 449 

The enemy's rear in front of Major Woods move 
toward the city without stopping, contenting them- 
selves with firing back upon his advance from time to 
time. When the city comes into view, and it is seen 
that no serious fighting will occur outside the fortifica- 
tions, the rear company of the battalion, C, is left at 
the head of the regiment, and the Major, with his three 
other companies (I, F, and L), commanded by their 
captains, Jones, Dana, and Pray, moves on to complete 
his orders. On the Range Line road they descend the 
slope of the plateau, and pass one of the groves de- 
scribed, which stands just to the right of the road. A 
line of rebel cavalry, about two companies, had been 

and the like. No official report of either Taylor or Forrest appears to have been 
made. In Taylor's " Destruction and Reconstruction," a history of his doings 
in the war, is an account of Selma, in which he gives Wilson's strength, but not 
his own. Jordan, in his " Campaigns of Forrest," page 673, intimates that 
there were 3,100, but, in describing the commands, he omits entirely the 
brigades of Crossland and Adams, which, on an earlier page, he says were at 
Ebenezer Church the day before, and therefore by fair presumption had fallen 
back with Forrest upon Selma. But Selma was of very great, if not of vital, 
importance to the Confederate cause. In supplies, factories, foundries, and pro- 
duction of ordnance and ammunition, not more than two other places were as 
great. The commander of the department himself went there to take charge of 
the defense, and though his department had been depleted to strengthen Johns- 
ton in front of Sherman, yet he must have had some infantry and artillery in the 
two States he controlled which could have been sent to Selma. The chance of 
the defeat of the cavalry in the field under Forrest was alone a sufficient reason 
for concentrating infantry and artillery in the fortifications. And Jordan says, 
page 673, that there were " other forces in the place" besides Forrest's. As is 
shown on page 442 ante, Forrest must have retreated from Ebenezer Church the 
night before with over three thousand. On the way, Jordan says, pages 671, 
673, he was joined by another of his old brigades (Armstrong), 1,400 strong. 
Here were at least 4,400 veterans. It is incredible that Taylor had not 
gathered, with a full month's notice of the campaign and of its object, at least 
a couple of thousand in infantry, artillery, home-guards, and militia. Nearly 
three thousand men were killed, wounded, and captured in the defenses, and it 
is certain that very many escaped in the darkness. The roads east and west 
were entirely open to them and safe, and even the Confederate accounts agree 
that their men broke and fled in numbers early in the engagement. We con- 
clude that at least six thousand manned the defenses. 



450 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

drawn up with right flank resting on the road, midway 
between the grove and the outer line of works ; but as 
soon as Woods' men appear in front of the trees this 
line melts away. At the same moment the first gun of 
the defense is fired. It is the 30-pounder, and the shot 
flies over these advanced companies. This announces 
to Woods that his orders are fully executed, and he 
shelters his men, to await further orders. The men 
are now dismounted and the horses sent to the rear. 
The position of I is on the road, to the left of the 
front of the grove. L is on the left of I, in a line 
reachina: from near the road to the border of the 
swamp. F is for the present on the road in rear of I, 
partly sheltered by the grove. 

Meantime General Wilson has reconnoitred the 
defenses and made his dispositions. Long's division, 
except one regiment, which he has posted at the creek 
in his rear, to protect his led horses and pack-train, 
is formed, dismounted, across the Summerfield road, 
with its right resting near Mill Creek, half a mile from 
the works and parallel with the line of that portion 
of them which lies across and immediately commands 
the Summerfield road and Mill Creek. His line is con- 
cealed from the enemy by a low hill or ridge. Robin- 
son's battery is posted just east of the road, in front of 
Long's left. The horses of the division are held at the 
creek, half a mile to the rear of the line. Winslow's 
brigade is halted at Shackelford's house, on the Range 
Line road, about a mile from the works. The Third 
Iowa and Tenth Missouri are dismounted and moved to 
a point opposite Long's line, and a few hundred yards 
behind Major Woods' companies, where they are formed 
in line, the Third on the right and the Tenth on the 



CA VALR V A GAINST FOR TIFICA TIONS. 45 1 

left of the Range Line road. Tlie First and Third bat' 
talions of the Fourth Iowa, with Company C of the 
Second Battalion, being intended for a special service, as 
will be described, are dismounted just in front of the 
Shackelford house and directed to remove their sabres 
and spurs. They are later to be formed on the left of 
the Tenth Missouri, and to be the left of the whole line 
of attack. The men are directed to make coffee, as 
there appears to be time enough for that valuable bit of 
preparation for work. On the road near Shackelford's, 
Rodney's battery is posted, and a little farther back 
Alexander's brigade is halted and held mounted. Only 
one man in eight has been left behind with the horses, 
but in the absence of all of McCook's division and of 
many detachments sent upon different marches and 
duties, Long has in line only about two thousand men 
and Winslo^ about fifteen hundred. 

In Wilson's plan of attack, which Long and Upton 
know and fully approve. Long is to assault the works 
in his front just at dark, while Upton, keeping his 
main force concealed, but within easy siipport, is to 
penetrate the swamp on his extreme left with a small 
picked force, suddenly and at all hazards rush over the 
works there, and throw the enemy into confusion by 
falling upon his right flank inside his works. A single 
gun by Rodney is to be Long's signal, and it is to be 
fired when Upton is ready and darkness is so far ad- 
vanced as to favor the movement of his forlorn hope. 

The generals having learned that the works in 
the swamp are lighter than on other parts of the 
line, assume that they are not so strongly manned; 
and it is at Upton's special suggestion and request 
that he is charged with the duty of making the 



452 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

daring attempt there. While these preparations are 
going on, other guns on the works have joined the big 
Parrott, and the battery on the Range Line road is 
throwing shell and canister with great activity. It is 
a mighty noise, with wicked whistling of missiles, 
though as yet without any serious effect in that part 
of the field. 

Now, about four o'clock, Upton is seen riding toward 
Woods' command from the rear. He dismounts, leav- 
ing his horse with a soldier, passes by the left of F, 
takes Sergeant Loughridge, who has the nearest platoon 
of that company, with Pickens and another, privates, 
and the four creep through the swamp on the left, for 
a close observation of the position. On the way the 
General talks with the soldiers, and speaks of the plan 
of attack. He requests them to look out landmarks 
well, as they will be needed to guide the assaulting 
force when night falls. 

Upton is very zealous in this enterprise by way of 
the swamp, and proud of his responsibility in having 
charge of it. He is full of the idea that such an 
attack will succeed with very small loss of men. He 
and the three soldiers, getting into the swamp, move 
forward through it, concealed sometimes by the bushes 
and trees and sometimes by creeping through the tall 
grass. They get so near the enemy's line that they 
can observe the character and armament of the works 
for some distance. It is seen that if troops can pass 
the swamp, they will be directly under the works. 
But the General, not satisfied yet, leaves the Sergeant 
and his men, and creeps through the grass and bushes 
still nearer, taking nothing with him but his field-glass. 
After a while he returns and goes with the soldiers 



CA VALR Y A GAINST FOR TIFICA TIONS. 45 3 

back to his horse. He is then fully confirmed in the 
plan described ; and says that three hundred men can 
get through that swamp, and, as he expresses it, " roll 
up " the rebels behind the works, so that in the general 
assault the whole place can be taken without losing 
twenty men. The three soldiers are much impressed 
by their distinguished companion in the reconnoissance 
and by the prospect before them for the night, since 
they understand that their own regiment will be the 
one to go upon the desperate errand. Indeed, the 
Fourth Iowa was actually chosen for the distinguish- 
ing service, and Colonel Peters was notified to be 
ready for such an order. 

But the execution of the plan is very unexpectedly 
precipitated, and to a certain extent disarranged. It 
is five o'clock. Everything is ready, and only the 
coming of twilight is awaited. Suddenly a great in- 
crease in the firing on the right is heard. It is Long's 
division advancing against the works. A regiment 
holding his rear has been attacked by Chalmers, and 
he takes the responsibility of solving the difficulty 
thus created by assaulting the enemy in his front. He 
sends back another regiment to strengthen the defense 
of his rear against Chalmers, and then leads the re- 
mainder of his line, himself on foot, at a rush across 
the open ground in front of the works. With great 
roar and crashing the enemy opens all his guns that 
have range. At least twenty are trained on the Sum- 
merfield road, while eight or ten are employed against 
the Kange Line road. But the small-arms are more 
deadly. In a few minutes more than three hundred of 
Long's men are killed or wounded, and he too is fallen, 
with three of his colonels ; but his men dash on, scale 



454 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

the palisades, plunge into the ditch, scramble up the 
escarpment, and are fighting hand-to-hand on the para- 
pets. For a time the battle hangs there, but the extra- 
ordinary vigor and impetuosity of the assault cannot 
long be resisted. The rebels break wherever Long's 
men reach them, and are forced back upon their 
inner line. A most courageous attack, a most brilliant 
success. 

Of course, the bold, splendid movement attracts the 
attention and intensest interest of all the rest of the 
army. Not knowing the plan of attack, the men of 
Upton's division suppose that Long has begun the 
battle under orders, and every moment look for their 
own orders to advance. Major Woods, with the three 
companies of the Fourth Iowa, seeing the Third Iowa 
and Tenth Missouri move up to his rear, has already 
advanced his position. F is now in the open field on 
the right of I, and the whole line is within four 
hundred yards of the works and in front of the 
bastions commanding the Range Line road upon both 
the lines of defense. Here his men lie down, con- 
cealed from view from the enemy's parapets, to await 
further orders. But the right of Woods' line is a long 
way from the left of Long's. Hearing the noise of the 
guns opposing Long's advance, and presently seeing 
Long's rushing line, Woods understands it to be his 
duty to charge too ; but he has no orders. He is not 
long in doubt, however. An officer of Winslow's staff 
appears and orders him to charge. His companies rush 
upon the works in their front with splendid bravery, 
and quickly carry the position. Dana with Company F 
springs over the palisades and upon the parapets at 
the three-gun battery and immediately captures it, 



CA VALR V A GAINST FOR TIFICA TIONS. 45 5 

while Jones and Pray dash in on the Range Line road 
or over the works on its left. Five guns and a whole 
regiment (the Fourth Alabama), with its colonel, fell 
into their hands. But in the conflict the gallant and 
accomplished Jones is killed. The victors, flushed 
with their success, go like the wind across the space 
between the two lines of works, to seize the inner line. 
"Woods' men and the left of Long's find themselves in 
a race for the big Parrott gun on one of the inner 
redoubts, the one just west of the Range Line road. 
It is able to fire one shot more ; and then Long's men, 
ahead in the race, have killed or captured the gunners, 
who refuse to leave their post. The general-in-chief 
of the unfortunate Confederates has already run away,^ 
giving up the battle as lost before it was begun ; but 
his lieutenant, the courageous Forrest, a host in him- 
self, mans the works with the confident determination 
of the true soldier, and forces into the trenches every 
man able to hold a gun. 

Understanding instantly what Long has attempted 
to do, Wilson promptly and wisely decides to support 
him with the whole force. He hurries forward the 
batteries of Robinson and Rodney, and orders them to 
fire incessantly, to give an impression of numbers of 
guns and to conceal the noise of the fighting with 
Chalmers. At the same time he sends to Upton an 
order to assault vigorously on the left, but events move 
with such speed that before Upton can receive the 

'Taylor says, in his " Destruction and Reconstruction," p. 219, that Forrest 
appeared in Selma, announced the enemy at his heels, and told him he must 
"move at once, to escape capture," and that he "barely escaped"; but 
Forrest must have been in Selma before two o'clock, and Jordan says, in 
"Campaigns of Forrest," p. 672, that he arrived at ten, and, p. 673, that 
Taylor left at two, which was full three hours before the attack. 



456 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



order the outer works are broken, Robinson has driven 
the enemy from the bastions on the Summerfield road 
and has planted his guns in the very gateway, while 
Wilson himself, fired with the splendid spirit of the 
battle, is leading a charge upon the second position at 
the head of his own guard, a squadron of the Fourth 
United States Cavalry. Then comes the obstinate 
fight of Forrest behind the inner line. The first charge 
upon it, made by a few hundred farthest in advance, 
is repulsed, but a second, in which the Fourth Ohio, 
Fourth Michigan, and Seventeenth Indiana join, is 
successful. Forrest himself there breaks, and with his 
guard flies through the streets and out by the Burns- 
ville road. His right hand, Armstrong, with his 
brio-ade, follows or leads his movement. There is no 
head to the rebels ; they become a mob. The moment 
the inner line is broken on the Summerfield road, Upton 
orders a mounted charge by the Range Line road. 
The two battalions of the Fourth Iowa are the men 
nearest their horses. One of Wiiislow's aides. Lieu- 
tenant Pickel, comes at a tearing gallop across the 
fields to the position of the Fourth Iowa, with an order 
to Colonel Peters to charge the battalions, mounted 
and in column, through the works on the Range Line 
road. In one moment sabres are on and spurs re- 
strapped. In another a column of fours is in the road, 
galloping down, Company C in front and Colonel 
Peters at the head. Now Captain Hodge dashes up 
with another message. General Winslow orders the 
Fourth Iowa to charge at once! Spa/re no horses! 
No horses are spared. Like a hurricane the column 
rushes through the gap on the Range Line road and 
upon the inner line. Once there, it is but one move- 



THE FALL OF SELMA. 457 

ment to deploy and dasli against and througli tlie 
enemy's broken regiments. It is a fearful scene : the 
clatter of the arms, the snorting of the horses and the 
thunder of their feet, the shouts of the officers, and the 
wild yells and cries of the men, the incessant flashing 
and cracking of carbines and pistols, the desperate 
efforts to escape or find shelter by the rebels who have 
lost theii- arms or their courage, and, as the battle 
decreases, the increasing confusion of accumulating 
bodies of prisoners, the excited search of parties of the 
victors who have become separated from their com- 
rades, the riderless horses flying wildly about. 

When this charge begins some guns on the inner 
works are still firing, but now all have ceased. The 
enemy flee in all directions, in great disorder, though 
some keep up an irregular fire as they run. The brave 
Taber, Chief -Trumpeter, ringing Charge! upon his 
bugle without ceasing, is killed at the head of the 
regiment.^ The different companies of the regiment 
sweep all the streets. Some obstinate rebels keep up 
a fire from corners and windows, but the most are con- 
cerned only in hiding or getting out of the way. The 
head of the column gallops first to the river, and 
searches anxiously there for a bridge, which it is 
hoped mil be found and saved ; but the enemy have 
had only a pontoon bridge, and that they had already 
cut and floated down the river, with all the steamboats 
which had been at the landing. Prisoners are taken 
in large numbers on all sides, and presently find them- 
selves shut up in the big new prison pen which has 

* This is the man who distinguished himself at Marais des Cygnes, where he 
sat upon his horse, directly under the fire of Marmaduke's division, sounding 
the Charge ! until his regiment had broken the enemy to pieces. 



4 5 8 STOR Y OF A CA VALR V REGIMENT. 

just been completed within tlie inner line of works for 
tlie confinement of tlie Yankee cavalry when caught. 
But night has fallen, and those who have managed to 
keep ahead of the charging troops are saved by the 
darkness. Those who hide in the town are taken dur- 
ing the night or in the morning. Some escape by rail 
to Meridian, the commanding general taking care to go 
first and on a special engine. This thrifty soldier has 
provided for himself in advance. Considerable num- 
bers escape to the east by the Burnsville road and to 
the west by the Marion road. The First Battalion of 
the Fourth Iowa, led by Captain Abraham, pursue 
some miles on the Burnsville road, capturing many 
more, with yet more guns. Lieutenant Ogg, with 
Company D, is the first to reach that road ; and he 
rides so close upon the enemy that his company is mis- 
taken by them for one of their own. Two guns with 
their caissons and prisoners, several times the number 
of his own men, fall into his hands. Company C, 
first at the river, follows eastward the river road, by 
which Armstrong and his remnant have fled, and its 
captures are five hundred men with their arms and 
thirty wagons with their mules attached. 

Forrest led his broken regiments a few miles on the 
Burnsville road, and then across the country westward 
to the Plantersville and Selma road. This he followed 
to Plantersville, where he turned west, crossed the 
Cahawba, and on the morning of the 4th reached 
Marion, twenty-five miles northwest of Selma, where 
he found several of his brigades and the remainder of 
his artillery, which he ought to have had at Selma 
two days before. 

On the Plantersville road he had opportunities to 



THE FALL OF SELMA. 459 

indulge his butcher nature, and he seized them with 
savage pleasure. That road was still practically occu- 
pied by Wilson ; his rear had not arrived at Selma, and 
there were troops on it upon various duties, perhaps 
some stragglers. Forrest met several small parties, all 
of whom he killed, or wounded so that they were sup- 
posed to be dead, regardless of their surrender. One 
of these parties was a small detachment of regulars, 
twenty-five men and two officers of the Fourth United 
States Cavalry, which was returning from scouting 
duty and had bivouacked for the night. Trusting to 
their picket and supposing themselves to be prac- 
tically within the lines of the army, the weary men in 
bivouac were all asleep. Forrest silently surrounded 
them, and his men dashed upon them with the ferocity 
of wild Indians, killing and wounding every one, utterly 
regardless of their cries of surrender. What chance 
they had to iight is shown in the fact that Forrest's 
only loss was one man wounded. Forrest's accom- 
plished biographer gives a whole page to this affair, 
with laudation, though he had space for only two pages 
for the defense and loss of Selma. 

The Fourth Iowa bivouacked on the field at mid- 
night, between the lines of Avorks, just west of the 
Kange Line road ; and in the morning saw and learned 
what it had helped to achieve. Its own immediate 
captures were nearly 1,500 prisoners, including 2 
colonels, 3 majors, and 76 lesser officers, 9 guns, 8 
caissons, nearly 700 horses, 3 battle-flags, and a large 
quantity of small-arms. Its losses were 2 killed and 
7 wounded,^ and a number of horses killed and wounded. 

These were the only losses of Upton's division. 

' See Appendix : " Engagements and Casualties." 



46o STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

The losses of Long's division were 42 killed, 270 
wounded, and 7 missing. 

The loss of the enemy in killed and wounded has 
not been reported. It was probably less than Wilson's, 
but their other losses were vast and irreparable : 2,700 
prisoners, including 150 officers, many colors, 32 guns 
in use on the defenses, 44 siege guns and 26 field guns 
in foundries and arsenals, with carriages and caissons, 
66,000 rounds artillery ammunition, and over 100,000 
rounds small-arms ammunition, the Selma Arsenal, 
being 24 buildings filled with machinery and munitions 
of war, the powder-mills and magazine, being 7 build- 
ings containing machinery, 14,000 pounds of powder, 
and great quantities of cartridges, 3 large foundries for 
casting naval and military guns and the tools and 
machinery of war, the nitre works, consisting of 18 
buildings fully equipped and in operation, 3 full plants 
of iron-works in operation, many machine-shops and 
factories making all kinds of machinery, tools, and equip- 
ments for use in war, and many storehouses filled with 
quartermasters' and commissaries' supplies in large 
quantities. 

Wilson's cavalry are proud of their capture of 
Selma, They had taken by assault this strongly 
fortified city, with a fighting force actually less than 
half that of the rebels in the works, for less than two 
thousand were engaged in the battle from both divi- 
sions, this number not including the two battalions of 
the Fourth Iowa which made the mounted charge. It 
was Armstrong's brigade immediately in Long's front, 
a famous corps of veterans, numbering fourteen hundred 
as even Jordan admits,^ while Long's line certainly con- 

' "Campaigns of Forrest," p, 673. 



THE FALL OF SELMA. 461 

tained less than sixteen hundred. No more brilliant 
and effective attack than that of Long's men could be 
made. The fire upon them was so hot that about one 
fifth were down within the very short time required for 
a swift run over a distance of three hundred yards. 
But the survivors never faltered. They rushed upon 
the works with splendid spirit, and though, as they 
mounted the ramparts, they were exposed to an enfilad- 
ing fire upon both flanks, they clung to all they had 
gained, and soon joined in another charge upon the 
second line, which they carried with unabated vigor, a 
shining crown upon their first success. 

General Taylor's account of the taking of Selma is so 
extraordinary and misleading that it ought to be noticed. 
One canuot but think, on reading it, that he was very 
weak, if not cowardly, in his conduct of the defense. 
He believed that the force with which Wilson started 
from the Tennessee was ten thousand, and he must 
have supposed that the fighting force before Selma 
was much less than that, decreased, as naturally it 
would be, by detachments, by the casualties of cam- 
paigning, and by the care of the trains and the 
wounded, even if he did not know, though probably 
he did, that both Croxton's and LaGrange's brigades 
were then absent. He could not have believed that the 
attacking force was substantially greater in numbers 
than his own. He says Forrest's men were " jaded by 
hard work " ; but Forrest had only been defending 
and falling back for a few days, and the men who 
were constantly attacking and flanking him during 
that time, and who had been marching steadily for 
thirteen days, must have been at the least equally 
jaded. He says : " Our information of the enemy had 



462 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

proved extremely accurate, but tlie Federal commander 
moved v^ith unusual rapidity and threw out false sig- 
nals." He refers, no doubt, to Wilson's marching his 
divided army on two or more roads and to Croxton's 
movement from the right against Tuscaloosa, in which, 
by getting westward of that place before attacking it, 
Croxton led Jackson to imagine he was going to 
Columbus in Mississippi. He goes on to say that 
when Forrest " advised him of this deceit " he " directed 
such railway plant as we had to be moved out on the 
roads, retaining a small yard-engine to take me off at 
the last moment. There was nothing more to be done. 
Forrest appeared, horse and man covered with blood, 
and announced the enemy at his heels, and that I must 
move at once to escape capture. My engine started 
toward Meridian, and barely escaped." ^ 

As there was no fighting at all, nor any pursuit, for 
a day and a night before the assault was begun upon 
Selma, it must be either that Forrest pretended that 
desperate haste and put on that blood for the occasion, 
or that Taylor ran away the day before the battle.^ 
But though Taylor "saw no more to be done," and 
found discretion to be the better part of valor, Forrest 
remained and defended the city with great spirit. 

Although the loss of Selma was beyond repair, 
although it was defended hj the larger part of all the 
forces that could be gathered from Alabama and 
Mississippi, except those in the forts at Mobile, and 
although the battle was the very rare if not unprece- 
dented one of cavalry against fortifications, the lan- 
guage above quoted is substantially all of General 

' "Destruction and Reconstruction, by Richard Taylor, Lieut. -Gen.", pp. 
219. 220. 2 See note, p, 455, ante. 



THE FALL OF SELMA. 463 

Taylor's report of the affair. He is polite enough to 
say, however, with the peculiar priggishness which 
one cannot avoid remarking throughout his book : " I 
have never met this General Wilson, whose soldierly 
qualities are entitled to respect, for of all the Federal 
expeditions of which I have any knowledge his was 
the best conducted." 



CHAPTER XL 

WHEEE NEXT ? " ON TO RICHMOND ! " MONTGOMERY, CO- 
LUMBUS, WEST POINT, AND MACON FALL BY THE 

WAY TWICE MORE THE CAVALRY CARRY FORTIFIED 

CITIES BY STORM THE LAST BATTLE OF THE WAR. 

The noise of tlie conflict had hardly ceased when 
Wilson was busy with the question what next to do. 
He knew that all of his superior officers were thinking" 
of his mov^ement as, first of all, a help to Canby's 
campaign against Mobile, but then, from the highest 
authority, he had leave to do whatever in his own 
judgment might be most effective against the enemy. 
He realized the importance of Canby's success, but he 
had now learned the strength of the rebels at Mobile, 
and his own success at Selma had made it impossible 
for them to obtain any substantial reinforcement. He 
had already given Canby great aid, had already struck 
the blow which made the fall of Mobile inevitable. 
Canby's strength was four times as great as that opposed 
to him, and he was sure to succeed. There was noth- 
ing important to do west of Alabama, or nothing to 
which the forces there were not equal. At Richmond, 
Grant and Lee were still opposed, and the great deci- 
sive contest was about to be begun. Sherman was 
somewhere in the Carolinas, marching toward Rich- 
mond, and the Confederate powers were straining every 
nerve to collect forces sufficient to defeat him and 

464 



ON TO RICHMOND ! 465 

prevent his junction with Grant. To the east from 
Selma lay the greater portion of the grand line of 
fortified cities, workshops, and storehouses, the enemy's 
only remaining great source of supplies. Clearly, the 
corps could do the most effective work against the 
enemy by breaking up the remainder of this last great 
line, destroying his fortified cities and shops and stores, 
all the time marching to the aid of Sherman, perhaps 
to the aid of Grant in the last and greatest crash of 
the war.^ 

Wilson gladly seized upon an offered opportunity of 
a meeting with Forrest, and in the conversation with 
him became satisfied that Croxton was safe, that the 
enemy could not be materially strengthened at Mobile, 
and that his own march to the east could not be suc- 
cessfully opposed. 

He returned from the interview determined to march 
with all speed directly through the enemy's country, 
toward Sherman and Richmond. Montgomery, Col- 
umbus, Macon, and Augusta would have to be taken, 
in battle, but it was never doubted that the corps 
could take them. Every energy was bent upon a start 
to the east. 

The work of clearing up the debris and destroying 
the public property at Selma was pushed with increased 
force. The moment the pontoon-train arrived, all the 
men who could be employed were at work on the 
bridge, for it was necessary first to get south of the 
Alabama. The river was so swollen that all the pontoon- 

' It should be borne in mind that Wilson did not know that Grant had begun 
his campaign against Lee, nor any more of Sherman than that he had left 
Savannah for the interior of South Carolina. Though Richmond fell on the 
same day with Selma, its fall was not known in Wilson's corps until nearly 
three weeks later. 



466 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

boats would fill only lialf its width. The bridge must 
be nine hundred feet in length. Some barges and scows 
were found, and others were constructed, to piece out 
the distance, but the tremendous current and the drift- 
ing trees made the work most difficult. Greneral Alex- 
ander, who was voluntarily assisting at the bridge, 
nearly lost his life and was severely hurt in one of its 
disasters. General Winslow was placed in command 
of the post, and had immediate charge of the govern- 
ment of the city and the destruction of the captured 
property. The prisoners were released on the usual 
parole, after Forrest had offered to exchange and then 
refused to exchange on equal terms. Afterward Con- 
federate officers easily decided, upon some pretense, as 
they had done in other cases, that the paroles were 
" invalid," and promptly put the paroled men into their 
ranks. 

Early the next day after the capture Upton was 
sent with his brigades to the north, w^th orders to 
march as far as the Cahawba on the Marion and Centre- 
ville roads, look out for Chalmers' division, which was 
believed to be in that region, and prevent it from mov- 
ing toward Montgomery ; and, if possible, to connect 
with Croxton, who had not yet come in from Tusca- 
loosa. McCook, who had been detached at Randolph, 
on the 1st, with LaGrange's brigade, with orders to 
join Croxton and bring him in, had not yet reported. 

Accordingly, Winslow's brigade, under Colonel 
Noble, without the satisfaction of looking over the 
city or the field it had helped to win, marched away 
on the Summerfield road toward Centre ville. Alex- 
ander's brigade took the Plantersville road. Noble's 
column reached the Cahawba at Johnson's Ferry, seven- 



ON TO RICHMOND / 467 

teen miles from Selma, wliere it bivouacked. The next 
day it marched, by Perryville, toward Randolph, and 
then again to the Cahawba, opposite Centreville, made 
twenty-three miles, and again bivouacked on the Ca- 
hawba, not yet learning anything of the rebel forces 
or of Croxton. On the 5th it marched on the road 
to Randolph some hours, when it was ascertained that 
McCook, with LaGrange's brigade, had met the corps 
train, and countermarched with it for Selma. McCook 
had encountered some of Jackson's cavalry at Scotts- 
boro and had skirmished with them, but did not ven- 
ture an engagement ; and he had heard from prisoners 
taken there that Croxton had been beaten by Jackson 
and driven toward Elyton. Upon these reports Upton 
turned his brigades also toward Selma. The march 
was by the road upon which Long's division had ad- 
vanced to the battle of Ebenezer Church a few days 
before, and both brigades bivouacked that night south 
of Plantersville, very near the camps in which they lay 
the night before the attack upon Selma. The next day 
Noble's brigade marched to Selma, by Summerfield, 
reaching the city at sundown, in a rain. It was imme- 
diately sent out on the Range Line road a couple of 
miles, to camp. The rain was very heavy, and camping 
in a newly ploughed field, in darkness and in a rain, is 
far from pleasant. 

The destruction of the public property in Selma was 
going on, explosions were incessant, and all night the 
city was lighted by the flashing of powder in the 
magazines and the burning of buildings and military 
stores. 

The next day, April 7th, was a day of rest to the 
jaded troops, but the heavy rains made it uncomforta- 



468 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

able. They were awaiting the end of the pontoniers' 
work on the bridge over the Alabama. The work was 
very difficult and tedious, because of the great current 
and the drift produced by a high freshet. The bridge 
broke away several times, twice with troops on it, and 
several men were lost by drowning ; but on the 8th 
and 9 th Long's division and LaGrange's brigade were 
crossed. At night of the 8th Upton's division moved 
down to the river, to be ready to cross, but one of the 
breaks then occurred, and the division bivouacked on 
the north bank. It was nearly noon on the 9th when the 
last of Long's division was over and Upton's could begin 
crossing. Under the pressure of the column the bridge 
sagged very much. In the middle it was one or two 
feet under water, so that men and horses waded on the 
planks a good part of the way. While the Fourth 
Iowa was on it, it broke again, and part of it drifted 
away. Several men were thrown off, but all were 
recovered. Night came on before the bridge was re- 
paired again. The sky was hung with thick clouds, 
and it was very dark. Light was necessary, and 
torches were not effective over so wide a space. Several 
wooden buildings on the banks nearest the bridge were 
successively set on fire to light the way, care being 
taken, of course, to remove the tenants where there 
were any. This made a good light most of the time 
and presented a most picturesque scene. 

The big river rushing full between its banks, the 
many busy men at work about the bridge under the 
sharp orders of the officers, the endless stream of sol- 
diers coming down out of the darkness on one side into 
the glaring light, leading their horses, splashing through 
the water on the sunken planks, and disappearing in. 



J 



ON TO RICHMOND ! 469 



the darkness beyond, the crowds of wondering and 
excited negroes looking on, the great flames of the 
costly torches, throwing every object into high relief 
against the dense blackness surrounding all ; — it would 
be, perhaps, as difficult to paint it with a brush as it is 
to describe it with a pen. 

The Fourth Iowa was the rear of the corps in cross- 
ing the liver. By midnight of the 9th all the regiment 
was over and bivouacked half a mile south of the 
bridge. General Winslow, being in command of the 
post, remained in the city, with his aides, orderlies, and 
a few troopers, until morning. Immediately after he 
had crossed, the pontoniers began to take up the 
bridge.^ 

On the 8th another effort had been made to reach 
the lost Croxton brigade. A detachment of sixty men 
from the Second Battalion of the Fourth Iowa, com- 
manded by Lieutenant Reynolds of F, with another 
detachment from the Third Iowa, the whole under 
Captain McKee, of the Third Iowa, was sent again to 
the Cahawba. The march was to Johnson's Ferry and 
then to Fike's Ferry on that river. At the latter place 
a body of about two hundred rebel cavalry was found. 
Lieutenant Reynolds, who was in front, immediately 
attacked them, and the Third Iowa quickly supporting 

* When he had ridden a couple of miles beyond the river, Winslow found 
that he had left his watch in the Gee House in Selma, where he had slept the 
night before. Lieutenant Pickel, of the Fourth Iowa, one of his aides, volun- 
teered to go for it. The army was then all south of the river, and the rebel 
advance may have entered the town. Pickel rode back with only an orderly. 
The pontoniers had not yet removed the planks of the bridge, though their work 
had just reached that point. The two volunteers hurried across, galloped to 
the hotel, found the watch under the pillow where it had been left, and recrossed 
safely. The pontoniers, who had waited for them, at once cast off the bridge 
from the Selma side, for rebel troops had just appeared in the streets. 



470 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

the attack, the rebels were driven across the river, losing 
a number wounded (whether any killed could not be 
learned) and twenty-four of their horses with equip- 
ments. One man of the Fourth Iowa was severely 
wounded in the face, and died of the wound a few 
weeks after, at Selma/ 

The corps had now taken the first step toward its 
new goal. It was in the heart of the enemy's country, 
with the Alabama behind it, impassable, the bridge 
destroyed. It was necessary to abandon for the pres- 
ent the hope of a junction with Croxton, but it was 
known that he was east of the Cahawba, where he 
would be well able to take care of himself, because 
the most of the enemy would now be drawn to Wilson's 
march ; and it was assumed that he would learn the 
direction of that march, and would thereupon himself 
move eastward upon a converging line. These views 
were fully justified by events, though Wilson moved 
so rapidly that Croxton did not accomplish his junc- 
tion until it was too late for him" to render further 
service with the corps. 

Deducting Croxton's brigade and the numbers lost 
by the casualties of the campaign and the battle,^ the 
corps now mustered less than ten thousand on all 
duties. But at least seven thousand were fighting 
men, all in excellent condition, and inspirited by their 
brilliant successes. 

Every care was taken to secure the highest degree 
of mobility in the column. All unserviceable animals 
were replaced by sound ones, selected from the cap- 

' See Appendix : " Engagements and Casualties." 

* The wounded had been left with surgeons and nurses at Selma and Ebenezer 
Church. 



ON TO RICHMOND ! 471 

tured. Shoeing and harness received close attention. 
The wagons, the pack-train, and the pontoon-train 
were reduced to the narrowest limits, and the surplus 
destroyed. Half the pontoon-boats shared the same 
fate. All camp followers and negroes were rigidly 
excluded, except the ablebodied negro men willing to 
enlist, who were formed into regiments, one to each 
division, and marched with the column. About one 
half of these black recruits could be mounted on 
horses and mules at once, and all were mounted within 
a few days. They marched and kept up well, pro- 
vided their rations themselves by foraging, and did 
much of the heavy labor required at different places. 
Probably no column marching during the war was 
so clean and well-trimmed for active movement and 
effective fighting as was Wilson's between Selma and 
Columbus. In high spirits it turned its face to the 
east, and set out for the Carolinas and Virginia. 

The first objective was Montgomery, the capital of 
the State and former capital of the Confederacy, fifty 
miles distant. 

On the 10th the march led through the villages 
of Benton and Church Hill. LaGrange's brigade had 
the advance, and Winslow's the rear. On the 10th 
and 11th LaGrano;e had several skirmishes with Clan- 
ton's brigade of Buford's cavalry. Forrest had chosen 
to remain west of the Cahawba, and he took no fur- 
ther part in the campaign. On the 11th the column 
reached the Big Swamp, and spent many hours trying 
to improve the road which led through it for a mile 
and a half. Large quantities of logs and fence rails 
were thrown into it, on an old corduroy road ; and it 
was only barely passable after great labor. The horses 



47 2 STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

of LaGrauge, Avith the guns of his division, had made 
the road nearly impracticable, and it was after mid- 
night when the last of the corps got through. 

The march of the afternoon had been over low, wet 
lands, in damp, heavy aii*, under a cloudy sky. The 
swamp was dark and dismal, in its mysterious, im- 
penetrable depths of dense forest and tangled brakes 
standino; ever motionless in the black water and slime. 
As the horses drao-wd themselves out on the eastern 
side, covered with mire, their riders, surprised and 
pleased, found that they rose abruptly to high, dry 
land. Radiant gleams shone through the trees ahead, 
and then suddenly they emerged from the forest upon 
an open prairie, flooded with the silver light of a glori- 
ous full moon shining fi'om a clear sky. Night was 
never so beautiful. An enchanting scene of splendor 
after the hideous swamp ! The very air was new and 
delightfully sweet. The soiled and tired troopers were 
suddenly in another world. Soon the road ran between 
fields bordered by hedges of Cherokee roses, now in 
their early bloom and spreading their rich fragrance 
abroad. An hour later came the village of Lowndes- 
boro, long noted as the home of wealthy planters. 
The way led through its principal street, a long, wide 
avenue bordered by great live-oaks. It was past mid- 
night. No living creatui'e appeared in the town, not 
a light was seen, not a sound heard except the sub- 
dued rattle of arms in the column. Even the horses' 
feet were hardly heard as they trod the sandy way. 
The broad white houses stood back from the avenue, 
surrounded by trees and shrubbery in ample grounds, 
brilliant with broad patches of the wonderful moon- 
light. Roses and jasmines gleamed in white stare 



ON TO RICHMOND ! 473 

against their dark folias^e, and filled tlie soft air with 
delicate odors. It was a dream world, through which 
the war-worn soldiers marched silently in the deep 
shadows of the oaks. % 

Not far beyond Lowndesboro the men lay down in 
bivouac, their dreams of to-morrow's battle inter- 
mingled with channing scenes of peace and beauty 
and the fragrance of endless gardens. 

Early on the 12th the head of the column approached 
Montgomery, LaGrange's brigade in advance. The 
city had been fortified by a long line of heavy earth- 
works, and contained large quantities of cotton and 
war supplies. 

General Wilson expected to take it, but expected to 
fight for it. The soldiers supposed of course that there 
would be a battle. One of the most noted cities in the 
Confederacy, its former capital, would not be lost with- 
out resistance, A long halt that occurred in Upton's 
division, two or three miles out, they assumed was 
required in preparing for the attack ; and they looked 
carefully to their arms and equipments. But the 
enemy, after a sharp skirmish with LaGrange outside 
their works, abandoned the field and retreated rapidly 
to the east. The halt was occasioned by the appear- 
ance on the road of the mayor and principal citizens, 
who came out to surrender their city. 

In careful order, every man in his place, with flags 
and guidons flying and bugles sounding, the ten thou- 
sand troopers rode through the city. "With prolonged 
cheering they saluted the flag of the Union flying over 
the stately Capitol. Never was any time lost by 
the busy Yankees between the taking of a city and 
the flying of that flag from its highest point. It 



474 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

was a beautiful day, tlie streets were lined with door- 
yards filled witli bloom, and all tlie people came out 
to see. 

At tbe same hour, at Smithfield, in North Carolina, 
then the head-quarters of the grand army to which 
Wilson's cavalry belonged, there was another scene of 
rejoicing upon an occasion worth many Montgomerys. 
That morning Sherman published an order to his army,* 
in which he announced that Grant had taken Rich- 
mond. "Glory to God and our country," he added, 
with fervid patriotism, " and all honor to our comrades 
in arms toward whom we are marching ! A little more 
labor, a little more toil on our part, and the great race 



is won." 



If the o-eneral could have made that order known 
that day to all of his army ! That news, coming with 
the capture of this capital city, would have caused such 
a scene of joy in the Cavalry Corps as could not be 
described. But the cavalrymen were contented as it 
was, though they supposed that Grant and Lee were still 
obstinately pitted against each other at Richmond and 
that Sherman was struggling against combined rebel 
armies in South Carolina, though they knew that they 
were themselves deep in the enemy's country, hundreds 
of miles from any support, though they knew that 
they must succeed or meet the worst of disasters. 
They too are "marching toward their comrades in 
arms " under Grant. The great goal of all is Richmond. 

But the veteran troopers will make their work com- 
plete as they march ; they will leave in their rear no 
means of defense or supply, by which secessionists 

' Special Field Orders No. 54, Headquarters Military Division of the Missis- 
sippi, April 12, 1865. 



THE FALL OF MONTGOMERY. 475 

may hope to continue the rebellion after defeat in 
the field. 

Colonel LaGrange, without stopping to see the prize, 
pushed on to the east after the enemy. Within two or 
three miles he came upon Buford, who, with some part 
of his division, sought to obstruct his advance. He 
immediately attacked, and the rebels quickly gave way, 
losing thirty of their number and Buford's flag. 

Before evacuating Montgomery the rebels set on fire 
nearly all the cotton there, some ninety thousand bales, 
but they had not time to destroy other public property, 
which was now seized and burned, to a great amount, 
by McCook. Five guns with their carriages and five 
steamboats with full cargoes of commissary supplies, 
sent away from Selma to escape capture, also fell into 
his hands, and were destroyed. 

Six companies of the Third Iowa were detailed under 
Major Curkendall for provost duty in the city. The 
remainder of Winslow's brigade moved to the eastern 
suburb, and went into camp. The next day a part of 
it lay there, while several detachments were sent out to 
destroy the Confederate mathiel of war within reach. 
One of these detachments was from Companies H and 
M of the Fourth Iowa, under Captain Whiting, who 
was ordered to march to Judkins' Ferry on the Talla- 
poosa River, and, if he could cross there, to move thence 
to Wetumpka and destroy the bridge over the Coosa 
at that place. The Tallapoosa was found too high for 
fording, and details sent up and down the river six or 
eight miles found no boat or means of crossing. Cap- 
tain Whiting then marched down the Tallapoosa to 
Gregg's Ferry, where he unexpectedly came upon a 
detachment of forty Union cavalry under Major Wes- 



476 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

ton, of tlie Fourth Kentucky, who had been sent by 
LaGrange to capture some steamboats said to have 
been run up the Coosa. 

Weston, bent upon reaching his object, was crossing 
his men in two leaking canoes, without their horses. 
Captain Whiting sent fifteen men from each of his two 
companies, under Lieutenants Sheafor and Blasier, to 
aid the enterprise, and agreed with Weston that he 
would remain there to support him in case he should 
be driven back, and that if a boat should be captured, 
they would go together on it up to Wetumpka and 
destroy the bridge. The combined party marched 
through the swamp between the Tallapoosa and Coosa, 
about six miles, and found three steamboats on the 
Coosa, which surrendered almost as soon as ordered. 
The boats were filled with army supplies which had 
been run off from Montgomery. Major Weston put 
his men aboard, ran down and took on the horses and 
remaining men, and proceeded to Montgomery. The 
men captured on the boat said that there were about 
eight hundred rebels holding Wetumpka, and to the 
same effect was the statement of some " Johnnies " ^ seen 
by Captain Whiting earlier in the day. Weston and 
Whiting thereupon agreed that it would be imprudent 
to make an attempt upon the bridge. 

The scene with the rebels Whiting had met was 
picturesque. While he was waiting at Judkins for 
news of a ferry-boat by which to cross the river, an 
armed man was seen on the other bank who kept care- 
fully among the trees. He was invited to come out 
and have a talk, with the promise that he should not 

' The good-humored nickname of the rebel soldiers. The corresponding 
nickname of the Union men was "Yanks." 



THE CROSSING OF THE CHATTAHOOCHEE. 477 

be fired upon. He then stepped out, and, in answer 
to questions, said lie was a " Johnny " and that there 
were more there. Whiting asked him to bring them 
all out, under the same promise, when about twenty 
appeared, stood with arms at rest, and talked across the 
river about the war. They said there was a report 
that Lee had evacuated Richmond, and they guessed 
the war would not last much longer ; but, in reply to 
eager inquiry, they were not able to tell anything more. 
The parties separated like friends, neither attempting 
any injury upon the other. The captured boats and 
cargoes were of course destroyed at Montgomery ; and 
Captain Whiting rejoined the regiment the next day 
on the march toward Columbus. 

Leaving Montgomery on the 13th, Wilson's next 
great object was the crossing of the Chattahoochee, 
about one hundred miles to the east. This large river, 
navigable to Columbus for boats of heavy draught, 
could be defended by a comparatively small force if 
no bridge were left for an enemy's passage. The 
bridges at Columbus, directly east of Montgomery, and 
at West Point, forty miles north of Columbus, where 
the Atlanta and Montgomery railway crossed the 
Chattahoochee, were known to be defended by strong 
works ; and the few bridges at other places would be 
destroyed upon the approach of any Union force. 

Upton's keen disappointment in losing the oppor- 
tunity at Selma, through Long's early success there, led 
Wilson to offer him specially the responsibility of the 
Chattahoochee. Upton accepted with delight. Wilson 
gave him a free field, generously refraining from any 
particular instructions, and added LaGrange's brigade 
to his command for the occasion. The extraordinary 



478 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

zeal of that born soldier, Upton, springing not only 
from his enthusiastic devotion to his profession of 
arms, but also from his burning patriotism, was now at 
its highest. He saw success as if he were already on 
the soil of Georgia, and was impatient of the three 
days' march that lay between. He determined to send 
LaGrange against West Point, and to move with his 
own brigades directly upon Columbus. If he should 
fail at Columbus he could join LaGrange and force a 
passage at West Point. As LaGrange would have the 
longest march, he was placed in front, with orders to 
drive the enemy unhesitatingly at every meeting and 
permit no delay. 

LaGrange was already, on the 13th, ten miles east 
of Montgomery, and had had more fighting with Clan- 
ton's brigade near Mount Meigs. On the morning of 
the 14th, beyond Mount Meigs, he again ran upon 
Clanton, and found him rather more obstinate than be- 
fore. Clanton had adopted the practice of dismount- 
ing and firing from behind hastily constructed barri- 
cades, though invariably dislodged in a dash of the 
advanced company or regiment. He persisted in a 
running fight of this kind for thirty or forty miles, 
losing twelve men and many horses killed, and about 
one hundred prisoners, as well as his brigade-flag, and 
being nearly captured himself. This daring cavalry- 
man, LaGrange, was sure to reach the head of every 
body of the enemy he was sent against. He had with 
him at the end of this campaign the flags of all the 
three rebel generals who had the ill-fortune to meet 
him between the Alabama and the Chattahoochee. 
Late in the day the rebels in his front gave up the 
contest and disappeared. 



THE FALL OF WEST POINT. 479 

On the 15th, at Tuskegee, he received his final orders 
from Upton, and left the Columbus road. On the 16th 
he appeared before Fort Tyler, at West Point, on the 
Chattahoochee, and distinguished himself by achieving 
alone one of the three splendid victories of the cam- 
paign. 

Fort Tyler was a large, massive redoubt, standing on 
a hill in the western border of the town, nearly oppo- 
site the bridge. It was surrounded by a deep, wide 
ditch, and the slope of the hill, serving as a natural 
glacis, was obstructed by abatis and slashings of 
timber. Three guns on the parapets were intended to 
cover the bridge and its approaches, one of them a 
32-pounder siege-gun. The garrison was commanded 
by General Robert C. Tyler, famous among the rebels 
for fighting qualities, with Colonel James Fannin 
second. The whole force numbered two hundred and 
sixty-five, as many as could well be used in the work. 

Eager to gain a crossing of the Chattahoochee before 
Upton could reach Columbus, LaGrange rode with his 
advance, and arrived within sight of the fort and town 
some time before his main column. Impatiently wait- 
ing, he planned his movements. His skirmishers had 
driven in the enemy's pickets, and observed the large 
ditch. The Fourth Indiana being the first regiment 
to arrive, one battalion was retained, mounted, on the 
road which led through the southern part of the town 
to the bridge, and the remainder was concealed and 
held in reserve. Detachments of other regiments were 
dismounted, directed to appear on three sides of the 
fort and make a show of attack, to engage the enemy's 
attention. Lieut. Rippetoe's two guns aided the decep- 
tion by keeping up a fire across the parapets. Other 



48o STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT, 

men were set to work making three "bridges," upon 
whicli to cross the ditches. These bridges were sec- 
tions of a picket-fence found at hand, covered and 
strengthened by long boards. These were to be carried 
by the men at a run, and put into place under fire. 

These dispositions made, LaGrange ordered the 
mounted battalion to move upon the bridge, and him- 
self went with it. These men rode straight through 
the town, galloped to the bridge, and charged directly 
through it. A body of the enemy's cavalry was seen 
approaching on the other side, and the utmost haste 
was urged. The movement being observed from the 
fort, the big gun opened on the bridge. When the 
first men entered the bridge, they saw dismounted 
rebels trying to fire it with lighted turpentine-balls. 
In the middle they suddenly came upon a gap in the 
floor six or eight feet wide, where the planks had just 
been taken up. It was fifty feet to the rocky bed of 
the river below. No time to halt or hesitate. With 
spur and nerve the horses were jumped clear of the 
chasm, the enemy on the bank were instantly charged 
and routed, the fires quickly beaten out, and the bridge 
fairly captured. 

But the big gun was now trying hard to destroy the 
prize. There seemed to be some diflSculty in elevating 
it, and its shot had as yet struck short. The fort must 
be taken without a moment's loss of time. LaGrange 
at once rode back, bridging the gap by relaying the 
planks. The gun was doing better, and it killed his 
horse as he left the bridge. Quickly mounting 
^Lother he was in a few moments with his battery. 
He ran the two guns up within six hundred yards, and 
ordered them to fire as rapidly as possible. One, a. 



THE FALL OF WEST POL NT. 481 

10-pounder Parrott, throwing percussion shells, was 
directed to silence the big siege-gun. In the fine 
service of this gun fourteen shots out of forty-two 
struck the body of its target ; and all the guns on the 
fort were quickly dismounted or silenced. 

At the same time, twelve men, stripped of arms and 
equipments, took each of the three picket bridges, and, 
under cover of sharpshooters, ran to the ditches, one 
party on each of three sides of the fort. These parties 
were immediately followed by dismounted men, who 
were to cross on the bridges and charge the ramparts. 
In spite of the sharpshooters, the enemy opened 
a hot fire from the parapets, but the brave fellows 
with the bridges got them into place. The charging 
party faltered, some of those in front sprang into the 
ditches for shelter, and the remainder fell back. The 
enemy, encouraged by this, threw lighted shells over 
the parapets into the ditches. Some were extinguished 
in the water, others by stamping, and others the be- 
leaguered men with reckless courage threw back into 
the fort still lighted. 

The reverse was only momentary. Another dash 
upon the bridges was made, the determined men 
crossed in a terrific fire of small-arms, rushed over the 
parapets, and captured the garrison at the muzzle of 
the carbine. The surrender was formally made to 
LaGrange by Colonel Fannin. 

General Tyler, 3 of his officers, and 14 of his men 

were killed, while 28 were wounded, mostly shot about 

the head, and 219 became prisoners. LaGrange's loss 

was only 7 killed and 29 wounded, a remarkably small 

loss considering the difficulties of the assault and the 

desperate resistance of the enemy. 
31 



482 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

Besides the guns and the fort, the enemy lost 500 
small-arms, 19 railway engines, 240 cars laden with 
army supplies, and quantities of provisions in store- 
houses. 

The detaching of LaGrange's brigade left Wins- 
low's in front of the main column, with the Fourth 
Iowa in advance. The rebels were seen only in small, 
vanishing parties of mounted men ; and after passing 
Society Hill in a drenching rain, the whole force went 
into bivouac. At Society Hill there was a show of 
Union sentiment among the people, the first met on 
the expedition, ladies appearing at their doors and 
windows and waving their handkerchiefs to the pass- 
ing column. 

The next morning, the 16th, as the column moved 
out, it was inspected and prepared for conflict with all 
the care and rigor that had been observed on the morn- 
ing of Selma, and every soul was filled with the hopes 
and fears of another hazardous battle. 

As has already been said, Columbus was then of 
great value to the rebel cause, made still greater by the 
fall of Selma. It had a population of about twelve 
thousand. The factories, workshops, stores, equip- 
ments, and materials there were much greater in extent 
and quantity than the Confederacy had possessed at 
any place except Richmond. It had become an im- 
portant naval port, with a navy-yard well equipped ; 
and at this time a large new ram was there, the Jack- 
son^ almost finished, having her armament and supplies 
on board and then receiving the last of her machinery. 
In March, 1865, a proposition was made and pressed 
by a large party in the Confederate Congress to remove 
their capital from Richmond to Columbus. 



THE ADVANCE UPON COLUMBUS. 483 

In contrast witli the good fortune at Selma, where a 
plan of the fortifications had been obtained and where 
the works were fully seen before they were attacked, 
nothing definite was learned of those at Columbus 
before they were captured. They could not be seen 
even by day until the observer came within rifle-shot, 
because of the thickly wooded and hilly country ; and 
now they were to be assaulted by night. It was not 
till the day after the battle that an intelligent idea of 
their plan or strength was gained. 

On the Alabama bank of the river was the suburban 
village of Girard, scattered on both sides of Mill Creek, 
which is a considerable stream flowing from the north- 
west and falling into the Chattahoochee opposite the 
middle of the city. Two wooden wagon bridges, 
about half a mile apart, each a thousand feet long, con- 
nected the city with this suburb. At the lower 
bridge came iu the roads from Eufaula, Sand Fort, and 
CJrawford, and at the upper those from Summerville, 
Opelika, and Salem. Five hundred yards above the 
upper of these bridges was a railroad bridge, by 
which the Columbus & Western Railroad entered 
the city. Immediately about Girard, and for some miles 
on all sides of it in Alabama, the country is very hilly. 
These hills are from one hundred to four hundred 
feet higher than the river, usually steep, separated by 
very narrow valleys, often mere ravines (except that 
the valley of Mill Creek in its lower two miles is more 
than half a mile wide), and mostly covered by a thick 
growth of small oaks. South of Mill Creek these hills 
extend, in a range or broken ridge, from the Eufaula 
road several miles northwestward. North of the creek 
they form a lower and more compact ridge, which begins 



484 STOR Y OF A CA VALR V REGIMENT. 

in front of the upper wagon bridge, runs parallel with, 
the creek, and rises gradually to Summerville, a village 
two or three miles from Girard. The road to Sum- 
merville begins at the upper wagon bridge and finds 
its way in curves along this latter ridge. The banks 
of Mill Creek, for a mile from the Chattahoochee, were 
so high and steep as to be quite impracticable for any 
troops. 

The defenses of Columbus were the work of an ac- 
complished engineer. Including the outlying forts 
they were perhaps too extensive for the forces and 
guns available to man and equip them, but no doubt 
sufficient men and materials had been promised. 
Whether any defenses immediately for the protection 
of the lower bridge were intended is not known, but the 
hills in that region are so steep and high and the 
ravines so narrow that a comparatively small force 
could defend that bridge well without fortifications. 
The works constructed consisted of an extensive and 
strong tete de pont covering the upper wagon bridge 
and the railroad bridge, with outlying forts and rifle-pits 
commanding the approaches by the roads and the Mill 
Creek valley. This tete de pont was a continuous and 
skilfully constructed line, beginning at the river on 
the brow of the bluif which formed the north bank of 
Mill Creek, skirting that bluff westward through two 
or three blocks of the village, then running north and 
northwestward, crossing the Summerville road and 
then running behind it and nearly parallel with it, to 
a point a mile from its beginning, then turning east,. 
keeping always along the commanding brow of hill or 
ridge, with lowland or ravine in front, and terminating- 
at the edge of an abrupt hill or cliff overlooking the 




CAPTURE OF CC 




ILUMBUS, NIQHT Or APRIL 16, 1865 




rt, a. It, Rifle pus. 

^. Kort, JO yards square, 4 guns. 

c: Lunette, 2 guns. 

</. Heavy fort, 200 yards long, 4 guns. 

<•. Lunette, 1 gun. 

/. Heavy fort, 150 yards long, 3 guns. 

.iT- Fort, same as 6, 4 guns, steep hill. 

/'. Heavy fort for 3 guns, steep hill. 

/. Foi t, same as *, thoujjh larger, for 4 gun«. 

i. Heavy fort, same as/, for 3 guns. 

/. Kort, same as A, for 3 guns. 

HI. Daitery, 6 guns, supporting i. 

"■ 4 guns, covering lower bridge. 

"■ " 4 guns, covering Navy Yard. 

/- " 2 guns, covering upper bridge. 

?• " 4 guns, covering railro.-»d bridge. 

r. Alexander's advance, checked by burning of 
bridge. 

Route of Winslow's Brigade, from Crawford road. 
• Third Iowa, 6 companies, dismounted, in line. 
1 1 1 1 nil I Fourth Iowa, ii companies, in column. 
I n D D D D D Tenth Missouri, 8 companies, in column. 



Alexander's Brigade, awaiting orders. 



Plan of forts ^,^, and ;', 40 yards square, with 4 guns, 1 bomb- 
proof, continuous banquette, and ditches. 



V 
4. 
5- 
6. 

7- 
8. 



II. 
12. 

«3- 
'4- 
»5- 



Plan of forts A and /, 30 yards on each side, with 3 guns, and 
continuous banquette. 



Plan of forts y and Jk, 150 yards long and 50 wide, 
3 guns, 2 bomb-proofs, continuous banquette, and deep 
ditches. 



The ram Jackson, 

Navy Yard. 

Steamboat landings. 

Court-house. 

R. R. station and other buildings. 

Eagle and Phoenix Cotton-mills. 

Columbus Iron Works (Gun Foundry). 

Rolling-mills. 

Boiler-works. 

Commissary Department. 

Hospital. 

C. S. A, Gov't offices. 
" " shops. 

" " laboratory. 

Murray's Gun Shops. 

J^- j- Gutcher's Wagon Shops. 

18. Button Shops. 

^- \ Dillard's Shoe Shops. 

21. Hospitals. 

Kealh's Sword Factory. 

Jakes' Shoe and Harness Shops. 

Barrenger & Moten's Gun Foundry 

and Caisson Works. 
Hyman's Sword and Bayonet Factory. 
Hyman's Pistol Factory. 
Brown & Smith's Wheelbarrow and 
Button Shops. 
i8. Kelley's Glue and Oil-cloth Factory. 

29. Kemp's Oil-clolh Factory. 

30. The Greys' Armory. 



22. 

23- 

24- 

■•'S- 
lb. 

27- 



Plan of fort </, 200 yards long, 60 wide, 4 guns, a bomb, 
proofs, continuous banquette, and deep ditches. 



ONE. MILK. 



)LUMBUS, NIGHT OF APRIL 16, 1865 



CAPTURE OF CC 




)LUMBUS, NIQHT Or APRIL 16, 1865 



THE LAST BATTLE OF THE WAR. 485 

river. It consisted of two heavy forts, one at each of 
the main angles, connected by rifle-pits. The fort in 
the village was a large, square bastion, mounting four 
12-pounder howitzers, with perfect sweep of the Sum- 
merville road, the Mill Creek valley, and Broad Street 
tow^ard the lower bridge. The weight of this fort was 
increased by six 10-pounder Parrotts planted in the 
streets near it. The fort at the upper angle was larger 
and heavier, in shape a crescent with angles, two hun- 
dred yards long and fifty broad, mounting four heavy 
guns, and provided with banquettes for riflemen. On 
the right of this fort was a lunette mounting one gun, 
and on its left wdthin a few hundred yards, in the line 
of rifle-pits, another lunette mounting two guns. 

Extending westward from the left wing of this 
larger fort, interrupted only by a steep and narrow 
ravine, was a . line of rifle-pits which reached to and 
across the Summerville road and ended in the ditch of 
another fort, similar in plan and size to the one last 
described. To one approaching by the Summerville 
road this portion of the defenses, with the forts d and 
g on its flanks, as shown on the accompanying sketch, 
would naturally appear to be the main line. 

In front of the two large forts described, and of the 
greater part of the rifle-pits, were slashings of trees 
which there had formed thick woods. 

Five other outlying forts, ^, A, *', \ and Z, had been 
completed at the points indicated on the sketch. The 
one marked ^ stood in the valley, on somewhat rising 
ground, covering the Crawford road, the Salem road, 
and any crossing of the creek within a mile above. It 
was the counterpart in plan and weight of /. Four of 
the others were very large redoubts, two square and 



486 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

two pentagonal, constructed for three or four guns 
eacli, and each planted on the top of a steep and 
thickly wooded hill. They were provided with ditches 
and curtains of rifle-pits where the ground was not too 
steep. These were designed to command the Salem 
and Crawford roads ; but, upon all that he has learned, 
it is the belief of the writer that at the time of the 
battle guns were not yet mounted in any of these five 
forts. 

In addition to the guns in the defenses about Girard, 
three guns were mounted in an earthwork at the east 
end of the lower bridge, ranging the approach to that 
bridge through Girard ; two brass howitzers, for grape 
and canister, were at the east end of the upper wagou 
bridge, to sweep the passage-ways ; and five were planted 
in a corresponding position to defend the railroad bridge. 
Twenty-seven guns in all were in position and manned 
by the enemy, and all appeared to be used in the battle 
except the two at the upper wagon bridge. 

If there were no troops in the outlying forts when, 
the battle commenced, the tete de pont and its curtain 
as far as the forty were certainly well manned. There 
were nearly three thousand men in them, well armed 
and with ample supplies of ammunition. No doubt 
they were partly militia, but there were at least some 
regiments of regular Confederate troops from Texas,. 
Alabama, and Georgia.^ 

' Governor Brown had for some time maintained an " army " of his own — the 
militia of the State. He called it the " Georgia Line," and was very proud of 
its organization and efficiency, as also of his being its " commander-in-chief." 
He spoke to General Wilson with great praise and zeal of his " Georgia Line," 
and he was sure that if the other regiments had done as well at Columbus the 
result would have been very different. This body was immediately commanded 
by Maj.-Gen. Gustavus W. Smith, and must have numbered on the rolls at least 
thirty or forty thousand. It embraced all the men able to bear arms under sixty 



THE LAST BATTLE OE THE WAR. 487 

General Biif ord, who had persistently fought Wilson's 
advance from Selma, though with no delaying effect, 
appears to have joined the troops in the works, with 
some part of his command, and to have assisted in the 
engagement/ 

The whole defensive force was commanded by Howell 
Cobb, who had been Secretary of the Treasury under 
President Buchanan, President of the first Congress in 
the Confederacy, and was now a major-general in the 
rebel army. Among his lieutenants were Colonel Von 
Zinken, then commanding the Post of Columbus, and 
Colonel C. A. L. Lamar, a Georgian of prominent 
family, who had been notorious as the owner of the 
yacht Wanderer., a " slave pirate." The famous or 
notorious Robert Toombs was there that day, too, 
though he seems to have rendered no militaiy service 
and to have left the city before the action.^ 

Sunday was the day of Columbus as it had been of 
Selma. Alexander's brigade led the division, and that 
brilliant cavalryman was to make the first onset. There 
could not have been a finer leader. Tall and of most 

years of age not actually in the Confederate army. But when a battle was 
imminent, the number of those who neglected the call to arms was so great that 
the law against absentees, though very severe in penalties, could not be enforced. 
The proclamations, orders, threats, and appeals of Brown and Smith, and other 
officers in Georgia, which filled the newspapers during Wilson's advance upon 
Columbus, brought to the defense of the border not two thousand of this militia. 
But the Governor and his General did not themselves yet realize what Wilson's 
cavalry could do. Though they knew that Selma was destroyed and that Mont- 
gomery had fallen on the 12th, on the 15th they issued further orders allowing 
the delinquent militia three days more to report at Columbus ; and neither the 
Governor nor the General got to Columbus in time to command their troops in 
its defense on the i6th. 

' The Macon Daily Telegraph ^ Confederate , of April 18, 1865. 

" Toombs was a conspicuous and noisy " fire-eater" before the war, long a 
member of the United States Senate from Georgia, the first Secretary of State 
in the Confederate government, and later one of its senators and a brigadier- 
general in its army. 



488 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

manly figure and bearing, strikinglj^ handsome, always 
carefully dressed and splendidly mounted, of intense 
nature and spirited movement, lie was the very type of 
knightly cavaliers. At noon he reached the village of 
Crawford, twelve miles from Columbus. A small body 
of cavalry, posted there for observation, fell back before 
him, and he moved directly on toward Columbus. 
Colonel Beroth B.Eggleston, with his First Ohio Cavalry, 
was in front. At the Wetumpka Creek, a branch of 
the Big Uchee, six miles from Columbus, he found the 
enemy's outpost and had a fight. The rebels had de- 
stroyed the bridge, and resisted his passage. But to 
the experienced Ohians the business of flanking and 
seizing the position was easy, and the bridge was 
quickly reconstructed. Then, after a rapid walk of 
two or three miles, the rebel pickets were driven in, 
and it was evident that the defenses of Columbus were 
near at hand. 

As already said, in eJffiect, only a little general in- 
formation had been obtained as to the enemy's position or 
fortifications, nothing in detail, but it was known that 
the country was thickly wooded. It would necessarily 
take some time to gain a fair knowledge of the works 
by reconnoitring in such a country, and the enemy 
ought to have the least possible time to strengthen his 
defense or destroy the bridges. Upton determined to 
attempt one of the bridges by mere audacity. If that 
should not succeed he would examine the defenses with 
a view to regular assault. 

Alexander was therefore now directed to move 
rapidly, in fours, directly on the road to the lower 
bridge, and take it if within possibility. Without 
any halt, and making no change except to increase his 



THE LAST BATTLE OF THE WAR. 489 

speed, he rode right on. Approaching the fort \ he 
detached the advanced regiment, the First Ohio, under 
Colonel Eggleston, with orders to ride down any force 
that held the road, and reach and seize the bridge 
in the shortest possible time. Colonel Eggleston 
ordered a trot at once, and then a gallop. Flying 
by the fort ^, and between ^ and /, these gallant 
troopers dashed right toward the lower bridge. They 
knew nothing of the defenses nor of the position of 
the rebel troops, they knew only that that road led to 
the bridge. The fearless Colonel rode directly in the 
front, and Alexander kept close in support with his 
two other regiments. No fire of importance was met 
until the head of the flying column was turning the 
first curve of the road, where it crosses Stumpy Creek. 
On turning this curve it received a fire from the front 
and on its left flank. The guns on the fort h added 
their fire, but the distance was rather too great for effect. 
There was no hesitation, the regiment galloped right 
up the road (somewhat up-hill here) to the second 
<;urve, and the rebels there fell back in haste. The 
bridge was now directly before the daring riders, 
hardly half a mile away, but the fire was constantly 
increasing ; they came nearer and nearer the guns of 
the fort ^, and the three guns planted at the east end 
of the bridge opened with direct range. Still Eggles- 
ton rode on. He had nearly reached the crossing of 
Bridge and Abert Streets in Girard, hardly three hun- 
dred yards from his goal, when he saw the bridge 
suddenly enveloped in flames. It had been prepared 
with cotton and turpentine, and the moment had come 
when the enemy saw that nothing but flames would 
keep it from the Ohio men. There was nothing for 



490 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

Eggleston to do but to retii'e. The remarkable depth 
and steepness of the banks of Mill Creek in Girard 
made it impracticable to advance from the south against 
the works defending the upper bridges; and indeed 
Eggleston was ordered to retire to the hills on his 
right if he should fail. As soon as he saw the bridge 
burning he checked his column, and fell back as 
quickly as possible. Under the fire of Rodney's bat- 
tery, which now galloped into position and threw shell 
for a time, Alexander came up to the junction of the 
Sand Fort road, and moved his whole brigade up that 
road, overlooking the valley, where he was finally in- 
structed to remain and await further orders. It was 
now between two and three o'clock. 

Before he ordered Alexander to move upon the 
lower bridge, Upton detached two companies of the 
Fifth Iowa, under Captain Lewis, and sent them tO' 
reconnoitre a by-road leading northward toward Sum- 
merville. When Winslow came up he directed him to 
move his bngade in the same direction, to a point 
which he described as near the Opelika road ; and 
while Alexander saw with keenest regret the failure 
of his hopes, Winslow was moving to the opposite 
flank of the defenses, to make the successful attempt. 

Meantime, two hundred men of the Tenth Missouri 
were detached, under Captain Young, and ordered to 
ride with all speed, by a detour, to Clapp's Factory, on 
the Chattahoochee, three miles above Columbus, where 
it was learned there was another bridge. Captain 
Young reached the place in good time, but the enemy 
had already destroyed the bridge. 

When the news of Alexander's disappointment came 
back, Upton determined with Winslow's brigade to 



THE LAST BATTLE OF THE WAR. 491 

assault the works on the Opelika (Summerville) road, 
and he set out at zealous speed upon a general recon- 
noissance of the defenses in that region. He divided 
his staff into as many observing parties as there were 
officers, reduced his escort to a squad, to provide order- 
lies enough, and exhorted all to the utmost diligence. 
Emulating the fearless example of their chief, these 
officers rode almost under the guns of the enemy, two 
of them, Major "Woods and Lieutenant Sloan Keck of the 
Fourth Iowa, actually coming upon the enemy's exterior 
line at different places, and escaping only by the speed 
of their horses, each of them losing an orderly, cap- 
tured. One of these orderlies, Robert C. Wood, of A, 
Fourth Iowa, was held by the enemy during the as- 
sault a few hours later, at a point near where a build- 
ing was burned by them for the purpose of showing 
the assaulting line to their gunners. Seeing his friends 
by this light. Wood escaped, joined them, and imme- 
diately returned with comrades and captured the 
colonel and the adjutant of the regiment which had 
held him. 

Winslow's brigade was moved around the front of 
the fort i and across the country, crossing the Colum- 
bus <fe Western Railroad, to a point near the Salem and 
Opelika road, which appeared to be the place intended 
by Upton, and there, concealed by a wood, it was 
halted and dismounted, to await further orders. The 
firing upon Eggleston's advance was heard, and the ex- 
change of shots between Rodney and the enemy's bat- 
teries, but from about three o'clock there was ominous 
quiet. At about four o'clock Wilson appeared near the 
head of Winslow's brigade, with his staff and escort, and 
there awaited the development of Upton's movements. 



492 STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

But Upton's absence was prolonged. He was not 
heard from until sunset, when lie came up himself at a 
gallop ; and the three generals were quickly in consulta- 
tion. It appeared that Upton had lost some time after 
his reconnoissance in looking for the brigade farther 
north. The misunderstanding was probably due to the 
fact that there were two Opelika roads, both the Salem 
and the Summer ville roads leading to that town. By 
this mishap it appeared to be now too late to attack 
that day, and Upton was much disappointed. Winslow, 
vexed at the possibility of any criticism in respect to 
the delay, at once said that he was ready to attack at 
any time, and would do it now. Wilson said that the 
men were not green soldiers, and that they had showed 
at Franklin and Selma that they could fight by night. 
Upton seized the proposal with pleasure, and rode off 
with Winslow at the head of the brigade for the Sum- 
merville road, Wilson and a part of his staff directly 
following to overlook the movement. . 

By a circuitous route, to avoid observation, the 
column moved through fields and woods to its new 
position ; but it was quite dark when its head reached 
the Summerville road, a few hundred yards in front of 
the forty. 

While the brigade was waiting in the woods, Wins- 
low had ascertained the position of the works between 
the Summerville and Salem roads, as well as the dis- 
tance and way to the upper wagon bridge. A citizen 
taken near the place had given information, upon 
which he had framed a rough plan of the main points 
of that portion of the field, which proved to be sub- 
stantially accurate ; but nothing better was known, 
and the evening and night were cloudy, so that dark- 



THE LAST BATTLE OF THE WAR. 493 

ness came early and nothing could be seen. The 
existence of the line from h to d was not known at all, 
and the works from dtog were believed to be on the 
main line. Immediately on the determination to attack 
by night Winslow issued his orders. The other brigades 
were not waited for. Wilson sent to Minty (leading 
Long's division) orders to close up on the Crawford 
road, but he was far in the rear, and camped for the 
night, after hearing of the battle, ten miles west of the 
field. Alexander was directed to remain in position 
on the southern ridge, holding the Eufaula and Sand 
Fort roads, and there await further orders. 

Now the six companies of the Third Iowa at the 
head of the brigade column (the other half of the regi- 
ment had not yet come up from Montgomery, where it 
had remained on special service), numbering three hun- 
dred, were quietly dismounted and formed for a charge, 
their left resting on the Summerville road. They thus 
stood parallel with the fort /and its curtain of rifle- 
pits. Colonel Noble himself led these companies. The 
Tenth Missouri (about three hundred and fifty men 
after Captain Young's detachment) under Colonel Ben- 
teen, next in order in the march of the day, was moved 
forward to the Summerville road, and held there, 
mounted, in column of fours, ready for a charge if the 
dismounted men should take the works. The head of 
its column was a few hundred yards behind the left 
of the Third Iowa. The Fourth Iowa, coming up after 
the Tenth Missouri, was halted in the woods on the hiU 
opposite the fort /, with its head in the rear and to the 
right of the Third Iowa line. It was now eight o'clock. 
There had been developed a line of skirmishers of the 
enemy outside of their works and about two hundred 



494 STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

yards directly in front of the Third Iowa line, whose 
fire had been drawn by Captain Lewis' two Fifth Iowa 
companies, which had acted as advance-guard to Wins- 
low's movement across the country, but up to this time 
there had been no other firing. 

As these dispositions were made under cover of dark- 
ness, and as silently as possible, it was supposed that 
the enemy had no knowledge of them, but, just as the 
order for Noble to charge was uttered, the darkness 
was turned to light by a furious fire from the rifle- 
pits in front and the guns in the fort d. Fortunately 
the range of all was too high. 

The Third Iowa immediately charged, and, although 
its line was thrown into disorder by the slashing 
through which it had to work its way, a portion of the 
men quickly got into the rifle-pits, where they bravely 
held on, under cross-fire, until their comrades joined 
them, when the rebels hastily evacuated all the works 
on that line and fell back. It being supposed that 
Colonel Noble's work was done, his line was held just 
inside the works he had taken, its left on the road, 
and, under the belief that the enemy's main line had 
been broken, a mounted charge was ordered. Wilson, 
watching the operations of his lieutenants with the 
keen interest of the soldier and the delighted approval 
of the commander, had already directed Colonel Ben- 
teen to move forward. Winslow now ordered him to 
move down the road, charge toward the bridge, and 
take it ; but Upton, for some reason, when the move- 
ment was only started, detached but two companies, 
and ordered Benteen to remain for the present with 
the others. 

These were the two companies in advance, the senior 



THE LAST BATTLE OF THE WAR. 495 

officer being Captain Robert B. M. McGlasson. This 
fearless soldier led his men down the road, and, though 
astonished to find another line of fortifications in the 
way, he boldly rode through them on the road, with 
such coolness and self-possession, indeed, that the enemy 
supposed his party to belong to their own force. But 
once inside, he galloped directly to the bridge, captured 
its immediate guard (fifty men), and attempted to hold 
the position. One of his lieutenants, Frederick Owen, 
actually led part of his men across the bridge, and tem- 
porarily held the battery there. But the enemy discover- 
ing what had happened, and seeing that McGrlasson was 
not supported, began to close in upon him, firing from all 
sides. Having no shelter, and seeing that he must lose 
his command or ride back the way he came, he pre- 
ferred the ride. He recalled Owen, and led a tearing 
gallop back through the lines, all the time under fire. 
In a few mi"nutes he was again near the fort f^ with 
nearly all his men. 

The mistake as to the position and plan of the forti- 
fications being thus discovered, the Third Iowa was 
hurried forward, wheeled to the left, and ordered to 
charge upon the works in their front, M^hich proved to 
be those between c and d. To do this the line must 
descend the slope of a ravine through thick woods and 
rise on the other side through a slashing. Noble led 
this charge, as he did the former one. Winslow re- 
mained with him until he entered the slashing, and 
then turned his attention to the Fourth Iowa, which 
he had meantime ordered forward on the road. 

The enemy, apparently expecting the new attack, 
now increased their fire. All the guns from d ioh and 
at the railroad bridge, and all the rifle-pits, were in a 



496 STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

continuous blaze. From the vast noise they made, it 
seemed as if the rebels would annihilate the last of 
theii' assailants, but all of their fire was still too high. 
No artillery was used on the Union side. In the dark- 
ness of the woods, lighted only by the fire from the 
enemy's guns, the Third Iowa went down the slope, 
scrambled across the ravine and through a marshy 
brook, and then rose through the slashing on the slope 
of the works, but they were much separated by the 
obstacles in the way, and the few who first reached the 
line supposed that their comrades were destroyed. 
Parts of three companies, however, with great bravery 
seized the nearest angle of the rifle-pits and held it 
obstinately, driving off or capturing the defenders. 
Their comrades, who had almost reached the rifle-pits 
toward the lunette <?, finding themselves, as they sup- 
posed, unsupported, and the rebels returning upon 
them, were compelled to retire to the road. When, 
thereupon, only a portion of the Third could be imme- 
diately rallied at the road, it was feared that the regi- 
ment was cut to pieces ; but meantime two battalions 
of the Fourth lowa,^ the First and Second, had been 
dismounted and brought up at a run to reinforce the 
assault. The Third Battalion was left mounted in the 
road, its head Just above the works first taken, ready 
for a mounted charge. The First Battalion, led by 
Captain Abraham, and the Second, by Captain Dana, 
ran down the road to a point a little lower than that 
recently occupied by the Third Iowa, faced to the left, 
and, without a moment's halt, advanced against the 
works in their front at a charge. Upton and Winslow 

1 A, D, K of the First Battalion (G then detached), and C, F, I, L of the 
Second, numbering, dismounted effectives, not more than 350. 



THE LAST BATTLE OF THE WAR. 497 

botli superintended this movement, and Wilson came 
down to look on. That portion of the Third Iowa 
which had not reached the works now bravely took 
position to the left of the Fourth, and joined in the 
charge. The battle-cry was Selma! With great 
cheers the officers and men plunged into the ravine 
and up the slope, finding ways among the fallen trees 
as if by instinct, and still under the fire of all the guns 
and of the rifle-pits in their front not held by the Third 
Iowa. The obstinate possession of the Third and this 
new assault were too much for the enemy. They 
broke from all the works in the vicinity of the lunette 
<?, and the new assailants were quickly on the parapets 
at c and below, crying ^'■Surrender! Tlwow down 
your arms ! " to the dismayed Confederates. 
* Both Upton and Winslow had ordered that no pris- 
oners be taken, so that the bridge might be reached 
with the greatest speed. When they saw that the men 
had, practically, all the rifle-pits, they hurried down the 
road to the point where it enters the works, and there 
kept shouting to the victors then rushing down the 
line : " Selma ! Selma ! Go for the bridge ! Take no 
prisoners ! Go for the bridge ! " The lowans, pos- 
sessed of the one idea, rushed along the rifle-pits, look- 
ing eagerly ahead for the bridge, not stopping to take 
prisoners, only shouting to the rebels to throw down 
their arms, and leaving them behind in the trenches, in 
the utmost confusion. 

Captain Abraham's companies. A, D, K, understand- 
ing that they must follow the line of works until they 
should see the bridge, crossed the Summerville road 
along the entrenchments and approached the fort h, cap- 
tured the battery in the street after a hand-to-hand 

32 



498 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

struggle with the gunners, and attempted to scale the 
ramparts from which the enemy were still fighting. 
A second effort carried them in and gave them the 
prize. Disarming the defenders and leaving a few men 
in charge, these companies rushed down Brodnax 
Street toward the bridge. Captain Dana, by luck or 
a different understanding of orders, left the line of 
rifle-pits where the road crossed it and led his compa- 
nies, C, F, I, and L, by the road directly toward the 
bridge, which brought them to the goal perhaps a 
little ahead of A, D, and K. But the broken regiments 
of the enemy who had fled from the works were now 
crowding across the bridge, and the battalions of the 
Fourth Iowa came together upon their rear in the 
entrance, and were at once so mixed that there could 
be no telling with certainty which was in front.^ It 
was a covered wooden bridge, with two carriage-ways, 
and the whole space was now filled with the flying 
rebels and the advancing lowans. Indeed, it was so 
dark that the lowans passed many of the rebels in the 
passage without knowing it, and reached the other side 
before them. The air was full of the odor of turpen- 
tine. The angles of the woodwork had been stuffed 
with cotton saturated with that fluid, so that the whole 
could be burned instantly in case of defeat in the 
works ; but the persons charged with the duty of set- 

^ It is not possible to settle dearly the question of precedence among the 
companies in the taking of this bridge. At least four companies earnestly con- 
tend for it. There are circumstances which appear to weigh about equally in 
favor of C, F, and L, but in the darkness and confusion of the passage and the 
high excitement at the taking of the battery, it is not probable that any one 
observed clearly his comrades ; and it is certain that men of at least six of the 
seven companies were met by fighting rebels at or near the Columbus end of the 
bridge. If there was any difference of time between the companies in reaching 
that end, it was so small as to be hardly appreciable. 



THE LAST BATTLE OF THE WAR. 499 

tiog the fire could not determine tlie moment of action, 
perhaps because enemies appeared before their friends 
were all through. One rebel did strike a match, but 
he was crushed in the act by a clubbed carbine in the 
hands of a man of Company K, 

For the possession of the battery at the east end of 
the bridge there was a sharp contest. The officers and 
men in charge of it fought with determination. They 
had not been able to fire through the bridge as intended, 
because their own friends were in the way, but they 
tried manfully to save their guns. In the struggle 
here several of the Fourth were wounded and Sergeant 
Jones of L was killed — the last man of the regiment 
killed in action, as Lieutenant Heacock of F in the same 
battalion was the first. Lieutenants Miller of L and 
Dillon of C were conspicuous in making this assault, 
and Private William Scott of F unhorsed the rebel 
commander. The brave gunners were all killed, 
wounded, or compelled to yield, the bridge was saved, 
the victory of Columbus was complete. It was the 
last battle of the war,^ and the crowning blow was 
struck by the Fourth Iowa. 

Seeing that the dismounted men had gained the rifle- 
pits and the fort Z», the mounted charge was ordered, 
and almost immediately Winslow had the Third Bat- 
talion of the Fourth Iowa, led by Major Dee, galloping 
down the road in column of fours, himself in front. 
The mounted men rode through the bridge among the 
last of the dismounted battalions, passed the captured 
guns, and charged into the streets, meeting the enemy 
at the first street from the bridge, passing and captur- 
ing numbers of them, with desultory firing on both 
sides, and turning the defeat into a hopeless rout. One 

• There were several minor conflicts later than this, but none upon any plan 
or of any importance. 



500 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

company hastened to seize the battery at the lower 
bridge, two others galloped through the streets to cap- 
ture retreating bodies, and the fourth sought the rail- 
way to intercept any train that might be leaving. Not 
knowing the way, this last company lost some time^ 
and when the station was found a considerable train 
had got away toward Macon, filled with officers, sol- 
diers, and citizens of position. 

The capture of all the rebels remaining in the de- 
fenses and all the dismounted in Columbus followed 
as a matter of course. The whole engagement and 
occupation were completed within an hour. There 
was no more noise, except the occasional cheers of the 
victors. The burning buildings in Girard, which the 
rebels had fired to light their operations, continued 
to cast a lurid glow upon the scene of the conflict. 

The victory was perfect, and the battle one of the 
most splendid in which the Fourth Iowa had ever 
fought. To carry these defenses by storm with a few 
hundred dismounted cavalry, in the night and with no 
certain knowledge of their position or strength, de- 
fended as they were by nearly three thousand men and 
twenty-seven guns, was an extraordinary feat. These 
achievements of Winslow and Noble and their men 
must stand high among the heroic deeds of the war. 

Thus fell Columbus, the key to Georgia. It was 
four hundred miles from the point at which its captors 
had entered the Confederate lines. Though the great 
events of the preceding fortnight in Virginia and North 
Carolina had made the engagement unnecessary and 
unimportant, it should be remembered that it was 
fought by men who were ignorant of those events, 
and who were inspired only by a determination to sue- 



THE LAST BATTLE OF THE WAR. 501 

ceecl and by the belief that they were fighting a great 
battle for the cause. 

As a compliment to him upon his brilliant success, 
General Winslow was placed in command of the city, 
and he appointed Colonel Noble Provost-Marshal. 

The next day came the counting of the losses and 
gains and the destruction of the enemy's property. 
To the great surprise of all, the whole loss of the 
brigade was found to be only 24 killed and wounded. 
Of these, 11 were in the Fourth lowa.^ But the 
enemy had lost 1,500 killed, wounded, and captured, 
27 guns mounted in the defense and 36 in arsenal, 
a great quantity of small-arms, and their new ram, 
the Jackson^ with its 6 additional guns. Among their 
killed was Colonel Lamar, of " slave-pirate " fame before 
mentioned, who fell near the bridge. 

The Fourth Iowa had captured 941 prisoners (mostly 
in the city) including 67 officers, with 12 guns, 16 
caissons, and 7 battle-flags. 

The next day General Winslow, with large details 
of men, destroyed 125,000 bales of cotton, 20,000 sacks 
of corn, 15 locomotives, 250 cars, the two remaining 
bridges on the Chattahoochee, the round-houses, ma- 
chine-shops, and other property of the railway, a naval 
armory, the navy yard, 2 rolling-mills with great 
quantities of machinery, the arsenal and the nitre-works 
of the Confederate War Department, 2 powder maga 
zines, 2 iron- works, 3 foundries, 10 or 12 mills and faC' 
tories making cotton-cloth, paper, guns, pistols, swords 
shoes, wagons, and other military and naval supplies 
an immense quantity of small-arms, accoutrements, 
equipments, and army clothing, of which no account was 

' See Appendix, " Engagements and Casualties." 



502 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

taken, 69 pieces of artillery with their caissons and 
carriages, over 100,000 rounds of artillery ammunition, 
and the ram Jackson. This ram, after being visited 
and examined by many of our officers and men, was 
burned as far as possible and floated down the stream 
and sunk. It had a square turret, was clad with four 
inches of iron, and had six long 7-inch rifled guns in the 
turret, one in each corner, on a pivot or turn-table, and 
one in the middle of each side, so that the guns could 
be trained to fire two in front and two in rear, or three 
in broadside. These guns were said to have been made 
in Eichmond. The Confederate gun-boat Cluittahoochee 
was destroyed below the city by the rebels, to prevent 
its capture. 

One of the captures at Columbus, though of minor 
importance in itself, was specially gratifying to the 
Union soldiers. It was that of the Memphis Appeal., 
a notorious Secessionist newspaper, truculent, men> 
dacious, and inflammatory to the .last degree. It 
belonged at Memphis, Tenn., but when Memphis 
fell its owner and editor had taken it from there 
to Grenada, Miss., where he called it the Memphis-Gre- 
nada Appeal ; thence again he had to fly, before Grant, 
to Jackson, Miss., where his paper became the Memphis- 
Grenada-Jackson Appeal. Driven from Jackson by 
Grant again, he went to Atlanta, Ga., but the next 
year he fled before Sherman's attack, and settled at 
Montgomery, all the time printing his peculiarly wicked 
and vicious stuff. Wilson's advance had compelled- 
him to move from Montgomery to Columbus, where he 
had not had time to set up his presses. Colonel Noble, 
as Provost-Marshal, seized the plant, and destroyed it 
with conspicuous care in the j^rincipal street. The 



THE LAST BATTLE OE THE WAR. 503 

proprietor, Dill, he arrested and found as meek and 
peaceful by profession as a lamb. He was required to 
give a bond against the future publication of the paper, 
and he took an oath binding him against any inimical 
or unfriendly acts of any imaginable kind, in preparing 
which Colonel Noble gave play to a lawyer's ingenuity, 
comprehensiveness, and sense of humor. 

General Winslow being in command of the city, his 
brigade remained there all day the 17th, busily engaged 
with Alexander's, in the work of destruction. By fire 
and explosives the property described, with the build- 
ings containing it, was destroyed or broken beyond re- 
pair ; and, as the devoted buildings were scattered in 
all parts of the city, there was all that day, on all sides, 
a roaring of fires and an unceasing crash and rattle of 
explosions. The scene baffles description. Its like did 
not occur in, the war, except when, two weeks before, 
the same troops did similar work at Selma. The 
labor and excitement of it were very fatiguing ; and 
the brigade was glad to have it end that night, and to 
move on the next morning against Macon. 



CHAPTER XII. 

THE imXT GOAL, AUGUSTA BUT THE CAMPAIGN ABRUPTLY 

CLOSED AT MACON THE END OF THE WAR HOW THE 

NEWS CAME FROM GRANT AND SHERMAN. 

The work of destruction at Columbus was not yet 
done when the spirited Wilson was pressing on to new 
fields of conquest. Confident now that his corps would 
sweep through Greorgia and the Carolinas, he was im- 
patient of the days that must be spent on the march. 
The grand battles of the war might be fought on the 
border of Virginia before he could reach the field. 
But the enemy's means of carrying on the war must 
be crippled and destroyed on the way. Augusta, two 
hundred and forty miles from Columbus, was the gate- 
way of South Carolina and contained an extensive 
arsenal, with military factories and general supplies. 
Macon stood midway, also containing an arsenal and 
army supplies. Both cities were fortified and were ex- 
pected to resist. Both were already preparing for 
resistance in great excitement. 

Wilson sent word to Canby at Mobile, and through 
Canby to Sherman, of his successes and his present in- 
tentions. Long's division (now Minty's, because of 
Long's wound), arrived at Girard on the morning of 
the l7th, crossed by the captured bridge, and halted 

504 



THE ADVANCE UPON MACON. 505 

for a few hours east of the city ; but that night it was 
well on the way toward Macon. 

The same afternoon LaGrange had set out from 
West Point for the same place, eager to be the first to 
reach it. There was a race, on converging lines, in 
which LaGrange would have won, but for the necessity 
of waiting half a day for one of his regiments, which 
had been sent around by Columbus. As it was, he 
arrived only a few hours behind Minty's advance. 

The march from Columbus to Macon was made by 
roads to the north of a direct line, in order to reach the 
railway and factories at Thomaston and to cut the 
Atlanta railway. The first place likely to be defended 
was the crossing of Flint River, at the Double Bridges,^ 
fifty miles from Columbus. Lieutenant-Colonel Pritch- 
ard, with his own regiment, the Fourth Michigan, and 
the Third Qhio, detached from Minty's division for the 
purpose, made a forced march during the night of the 
17th, reached the river at sunrise, surprised the enemy 
posted there, and took the bridges at a charge and with- 
out loss. The rebels lost several killed and wounded, 
fifty captured, three pieces of artillery, a wagon-train 
loaded with supplies, and one hundred and fifty horses 
and mules. 

But one more serious attempt was made to oppose 
Minty's march. At Mimm's Mills, the crossing of 
Tobesofkee Creek, about fifteen miles from Macon, in 
the afternoon of the 20th, three hundred rebels were in 
position. They were posted behind the creek, and 
sheltered by heavy barricades of rails and by the mills. 
They had set the bridge on fire, after tearing up part 

' The Flint is a large river, flowing here around an island, and crossed by two 
long bridges. 



5o6 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

of the planking. The Seventeenth Indiana, led by 
Colonel White, now in the advance of the division, 
came up at a trot, received a volley, though v^ithout 
loss, and at once attempted to cross the burning bridge. 
The gap in the planking stopped the horses, but the 
men, with splendid audacity, sprang to the ground, 
crossed on the burning stringers, and charged the de- 
fenses. The enemy fled from such an attack in a 
panic, so demoralized that they threw away their guns^ 
blankets, and all that could impede their flight. 

Colonel White now put his command into close order, 
waited for the division to approach in his rear, and 
moved steadily on toward Macon. There was still one 
position. Rocky Creek, which might be defended before 
the enemy retired within the fortifications of the city. 

General Howell Cobb had reached Macon, with a 
portion of the troops who had escaped from Columbus, 
and had taken command. He was assisted by Generals 
William W. Mackall and Hugh W. Mercer, of the Con- 
federate army, and Generals Gustavus W. Smith and 
Felix H. Robertson, of the Georgia militia, who added 
to Cobb's troops enough to make the aggregate about 
three thousand five hundred. 

The city was well defended by art and by nature. 
The Ocmulgee River, covering the north and east, was 
impassable, and over the high ground on the west and 
south ran a line of earthworks, bastions and rifle-pits, 
stockaded as at Selma, continuous from the river above 
to the river below. 

The flaming appeals to citizens and stringent orders 
to soldiers, usually published on the advance of Union 
forces, were not wanting. As an example of those 
often seen on such occasions, the following are copied 



THE ADVANCE UPON MACON. 507 

from the Macon Daily Telegrapli (& Confederate of 
April 18, 1865 : 

FALL IN! 

From what facts we can gather, it seems Columbus fell 
into the hands of the enemy last evening. We know none 
of the particulars. The next point attacked will probably 
be Macon. It must and can be successfully defended ! 

If every man who is interested in the safety of his prop- 
erty, the sanctity of his home, and the honor of his State, 
will at once hurry to this point, there is not the shadow of a 
doubt that this raid can be beaten and driven back. There 
is no time to be lost. The people should organize at once. 
It will be a burning shame, if some three or four thousand 
Yankees be permitted to capture and plunder the principal 
cities of Georgia. Forrest, with his gallant band, is rapidly 
advancing in their rear, and should they attack Macon, we 
have but to make a firm defense, to insure the destruction of 
these Yankee robbers ! 

We tell the people of Middle and Southwestern Georgia, 
that here is the place to defend their homes and their prop- 
erty. Woe be to them, if by their supineness and inactivity 
they permit this city to fall into the hands of their foe ! 
Their homes will be desolated, their property stolen, their 
wives and daughters outraged and insulted. 

As certain as the sun shines we can whip the enemy if the 
men within easy distance of this city will hurry to the rescue. 
If all come who can and should, there will be no fight. The 
enemy would not dare attack such a force as can be concen- 
trated here in the next three days. That the citizens will 
do their duty, we cannot doubt. When Stoneman attacked 
Macon our people turned out en masse, and the result was 
that this celebrated raider and a large portion of his band 
were brought captives into town. They will prove as ready 
to defend themselves now, as three companies are already 
organizing. Push on the good work. Remember, every- 
thing is at stake — property, home and honor. Fall in ! 



5c8 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

Headquarters, Macon, April 17, 1865. 

General Orders, | 
No. 7. ( 

I. Every man in the city capable of bearing arntis in 
defense of his country, is required to report forthwith to 
Captain G. S. Obear, at E. J. Johnston & Co.'s Store, com- 
manding local troops, for enrollment in one of the local 
companies for city defense. 

II. All officers able to bear arms, not on duty, will assem- 
ble at the City Hall at 2 P.M. to-day, to be assigned to such 
duty as they can best perform. 

III. All detailed and furloughed soldiers in the city, ex- 
cept those in the employ of the Quartermaster and Commis- 
sary of Post, Ordnance establishment and Engineer Corps, 
if unconnected with any local company, will forthwith unite 
themselves to some such organization. 

IV. An alarm of two guns fired from the City Hall will 
be a signal for rendezvous of the local troops. 

By command of 

W. W. Mackall, 
Brigadier-General Commanding. 

The advance of Upton's division left Columbus at 
daybreak of the 18th, although the work of destruction 
w^as not yet completed. Flames v^^ere still seen and 
explosions still heard as the head of the column moved 
away from the devoted city. The division took Minty's 
road as far as Thomaston, and then marched farther 
north, to reach the railway at Barnesville. Parties 
were sent out on both flanks, to destroy bridges and 
factories. The night of the 18th was spent at Thomas- 
ton, where Minty had destroyed the cotton-mills for 
which that town had been noted. The day and night 
of the 19th were spent in destroying the railway and 
other public property beyond Thomaston as far as 



THE END OF THE WAR. 509 

Barnesville. On the 20tli the Fourth Iowa, being in 
the advance of the brigade, moved down the Atlanta 
and Macon railroad to Forsyth, and that night it was 
busy until two o'clock in the work of destroying it 
some miles east of Forsyth. How well that night and 
that work is remembered ! The last act of war by the 
Fourth Iowa ! 

It was fine weather. Every man was in high spirits. 
The successes achieved were so distinct and effective, 
the conquest of the enemy so complete, the end of the 
war seemed sure at no great distance of time. Some- 
how it was like holiday work. The men tore up the 
track, piled the ties, placed the rails, and set the fires 
in the best of humor, talking confidently of the taking 
of Macon the next day. They supposed that the Sec- 
ond Division would be in front at Macon, and that 
their own next great opportunity would be at 
Augusta. 

The writer, who was overlooking the work, some- 
times lending a hand, left the spot for a time, and went 
with a friend to a negro cabin near by, to employ the 
"aunty" to make some corn-bread. It was after one 
o'clock in the morning, and it was reasonable to be 
hungry. The household was all up. With such a 
scene and such noises near there was no sleeping. 
The bread had to be waited for, and when it was done 
it was without salt,^ but it answered the purpose. On 
returning to the railway it was surprising to see that 
none of the men were at work. They stood about in 
groups, thrown into relief by the line of fires in which 
the ties were burning, and were talking, though very 

' In the later years of the war the people in some parts of the South were 
wholly without salt. 



51° 



STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 



quietly and not much. They had heard news that was 
stunning, it came so suddenly; and indeed nobody 
could believe it. It was a report that Wilson had 
been informed that Richmond had fallen, that Lee and 
Johnston had surrendered, and that hostilities were at 
an end. 

No more hostile work was done. The men went 
into bivouac, and sat about the fires, or lay down, in 
silence. If they spoke, it was in subdued tones. It 
was as if they were dazed. They resisted belief, they 
dared not trust the story. 

About five o'clock in the afternoon of the 20th, 

when Colonel White, with his Seventeenth Indiana, 

was within twelve miles of Macon, driving rapidly 

before him a force of rebels who had resisted his 

advance, he was suddenly confronted by another party 

carrying a white flag. It was General Robertson, sent 

by General Cobb, with a letter containing a copy of a 

telegram, as follows : 

Greensboro, April 19, 1865, 
Via Columbia, 19 ; via Augusta, 20. 

Major-General H. Cobb : 

Inform General commanding enemy's forces in your front 
that a truce for the purpose of a final settlement was agreed 
upon yesterday between Generals Johnston and Sherman 
applicable to all forces under their command. A message 
to that effect from General Sherman will be sent him as 
soon as practicable. The contending forces are to occupy 
their present position, forty-eight hours' notice being given 
on the event of resumption of hostilities. 

P. G. T. Beauregard, 
General, Second in Command. 

White sent the letter back to Minty, and awaited 
orders. Minty sent it farther back, to Wilson, but at 



THE END OE THE WAR. 511 

the same time sent a staff-officer forward to Robertson, 
to tell him what he had done and direct him to return 
immediately to his lines, there to await his reply 
from Wilson. But Robertson declined to receive an 
oral message, and insisted that he should have a writ- 
ten one. Later this proved to be only a bit of punctilio, 
but Minty, associating it with the fact that the flag-of- 
truce party had just given practical protection to a 
fighting force, feared that the enemy were attempting 
to deceive him while they gained time for the strength- 
ening of their defense at Rocky Creek, now only a few 
miles ahead. He therefore directed White to give 
Robertson five minutes to get out of the way, and then 
to push forward. Upon this Robertson retired, and 
White, who shared Minty's apprehension of the enemy's 
purpose, followed promptly when the time expired. 
Within two miles he overtook Robertson's party, cover- 
ing a battalion of the enemy's cavalry. The whole 
body moved so slowly that the officer commanding 
White's advance was satisfied that the purpose was to 
delay him. Under his orders, therefore, he charged 
along the road, scattering the rebels and pushing his 
way forward to Rocky Creek, where he arrived just in 
time to drive off another force and extinguish the fire 
which they had set to the bridge. 

Wilson, as soon as he received the message, galloped 
to the front, with the purpose to halt his column out- 
side the fortifications and make inquiries of Cobb. He 
too was slow to believe a report so momentous coming 
through the enemy. But, before he could reach the 
front, Colonel White, finding that the enemy still 
persisted in firing upon his advance, and that on fall- 
ing back from Rocky Creek they continued firing upon 



512 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

him until they entered the works, pushed directly after 
them and demanded their surrender. The troops in 
that part of the line yielded without further conflict, 
and White rode to headquarters in the city, where 
Cobb surrendered the place unconditionally. 

The captures included 3,500 prisoners of war, of 
whom 4 were the generals already named and 300 
were inferior officers, 5 colors, 60 guns, 3,000 small- 
arms, the arsenal filled with ammunition and ordnance 
stores, and large amounts of quartermasters', commis- 
saries', and medical supplies. 

White's loss had been one man killed and two 
wounded in the fighting on the road during the day. 

General Cobb protested against the capture, declar- 
ing it a violation of the armistice between Sherman 
and Johnston referred to in his letter ; and when Wil- 
son came up he insisted that the troops ought to be 
withdrawn from the city and held at the point where 
they were met by the flag of truce. But, as the officers 
in the advance were properly obeying orders in all 
they did, and as Wilson, on receiving the letter, had 
made every effort to reach the head of his column,^ 
with orders to have it halted outside the fortifications 
until he could be satisfied as to the authenticity of the 
report, and as the peculiar conduct of the flag-of-truce 
party had justified the suspicion and the vigorous 
pressure of the officers commanding the advance, and 
as the news was wholly from an enemy (no message 

' A cavalry division makes a long column, and on this occasion the advanced 
regiment was eagerly pushing its way a remarkably long distance ahead of its 
division. When Wilson received Cobb's letter he was six miles back of the 
point where the flag of truce was met, and nearly twenty from Macon. With 
six miles' start and the impression in his mind that the enemy were trying to 
deceive, no wonder that White reached the city first. 



THE END OF THE WAR. 5 1 3 

being received purporting to come from any Union 
officer), the protest was deemed unreasonable. Cobb 
himself no doubt soon thought better of it, for, though 
he remained nominally a prisoner of war several weeks 
thereafter, he freely and without reservation turned 
over to Wilson all troops and property within his con- 
trol, and busied himself in a very frank and manly 
manner in assisting to establish order, to restore con- 
fidence among the people, and to have them cheerfully 
obey the new authorities. 

There was not much sleep in the bivouac of the 
Fourth Iowa in the woods by the railway that night 
of the 20th of April. The men were disturbed and 
nervous the next morning when they turned out in 
column, the more so because they were not required 
to march at daybreak, an order which had become so 
common that it seemed a matter of course. It was as 
late as eight o'clock when the regiment moved, and 
there was no strictness in the order of march. Officers 
and men alike seemed to have forgotten their smaller 
duties. All were absorbed in their thoughts and 
hopes. Nobody could believe the report, but every- 
body secretly longed to believe it. It was much easier 
to think of the probability of a battle at Macon, and 
as mile after mile went by all ears were more and 
more alert to hear the guns in action. Even when at 
last the works were seen, with no sign of defenders 
about them, the impression was only that that was 
unreal and that something real would happen at any 
moment. So it was like a dream to ride at a walk by 
frowning bastions mounting silent guns, and down 
through a city at peace. 

Winslow's brigade was moved across the Ocmulgee, 
33 



514 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

and encamped in a wood of small pines on the low 
sandy hills rising from its northern bank. The 
weather was hot, and had been so for some days ; and 
the men immediately employed themselves in construct- 
ing bowers to protect themselves and their horses from 
the sun. 

Wilson that morning sent a message, by the enemy's 
telegraph, to Sherman, at Greensboro, N. C, reporting 
his occupation of Macon and the news he had received 
from Cobb. In the evening he had a reply by tele- 
graph, which was afterward repeated by letter, con- 
firming Cobb's news, and directing him to desist from 
further acts of war until he should hear that hostilities 
were resumed.^ 

Wilson thereupon despatched Captain Lewis M. 
Hosea, of his staif, to Sherman, with full reports and 
instructions, and sat down to await definite orders. 

' Headquarters, Greensboro, N. C, April 21, 1865 — 2 p.m. 

Major-General Wilson, 

Commanding Cavalry, Army United States, through Major-General H. Cobb : 
The following is a copy of a communication just received, which will be sent 

to you to-day by an officer : 

" Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi, 

Raleigh, April 20, 1865. 

" •Major-General Wilson, 

Commanding Cavalry United States Army in Georgia : 

" General Joseph E. Johnston has agreed with me for a universal suspension of 
hostilities, looking to a peace over the whole surface of our country. I feel 
assured that it will be made perfect in a. few days. You will therefore desist 
from acts of war and devastation until you hear that hostilities are resumed. 
For the convenience of supplying your command, you may either contract for 
supplies down about Fort Valley or the old Chattahooche Arsenal, or, if you are 
south of West Point, Georgia, in the neighborhood of Rome or Kingston, 
opening up communication and a route of supplies into Chattanooga and 
Cleveland. Report to me your position through General Johnston, as also round 
by sea. You may also advise General Canby of your position, and the substance 
of this, which I have sent round by sea. 

" W. T. Sherman, 

" Major-General Commanding." 
Please communicate above to the Federal commander. 

J. E. Johnston. 



THE END OF THE WAR. 515 

Of course the troops were kept well in hand and the 
horses carefully provided for^ as at any moment might 
come an order to resume hostilities; but nothing of 
note was done in the corps for ten days. The most 
serious problem was that of food. Except coffee and 
sugar, all the provisions with which the campaign was 
begun were long ago gone, and the stores found in 
Macon must be distributed not only to the corps but 
to the prisoners and the citizens. But, after a week, 
no further orders or instructions being received from 
Sherman, the prisoners were all paroled. 

On the 28th came a white flag from Mobile, with 
the news from Canby that he had taken that city on 
the 12th, and had sent troops to occupy Selma and 
Montgomery. 

On the 29th news of the approach of Croxton was 
received, and two days later he appeared with his 
brigade. He had been thirty days in the enemy's 
country, without any communication with any friendly 
force. He was detached with 1,500 men, and lost 
172, mostly by capture of foragers. He had taken 
nearly 300 prisoners and 4 guns in action, had 
destroyed 5 iron-works, 2 nitre-works, 3 factories, 
many mills and bridges, the military university at 
Tuscaloosa, and many accumulations of supplies. 
After several days manoeuvring and some fighting 
with Jackson's division, he took Tuscaloosa the night 
of the 3d, and destroyed all public projDerty there, 
thus executing the orders upon which he was detached. 
"When he then attempted to follow the corps, he found 
Jackson in his way. Then, for ten days, he moved 
about Tuscaloosa, east, west, and north, seeking to 
evade Jackson and communicate with the cor2)s, mean- 



5i6 STOR Y OF A CA VALR V REGIMENT. 

time being attacked by Wirt Adams witli two brigades, 
sent over from the Mississippi border for the purpose. 
This attack was firmly received and repulsed, with 
rather severe loss on both sides. Adams thereupon, 
though he claimed the victory, marched back into 
Mississippi. Then at last Croxton rightly moved east, 
on the guess that the corps had gone in that direc- 
tion. Crossing the Warrior rivers and the Cahawba^ 
north of Ely ton, he learned on the 18th that Wilson 
had taken Montgomery and gone toward Georgia ; and 
though he was only near Montevallo on the day Wilson 
entered Macon, he marched almost directly toward 
Macon, following the shortest course that he could 
have chosen if he had known precisely the line of 
Wilson's march. He had some fighting with parties 
of the enemy's cavalry, the last engagement, on the 
23d, at Blue Mountain, near Talladega, with several 
hundred rebels under General Hill,^ attaining almost 
the dignity of a battle and being the last fighting 
done by any of the corps. 

This extraordinary march of Croxton, over six 
hundred and fifty miles in length, without knowledge 
of the position or strength of the enemy in the country 
and with but two bits of news of the movements of 
his corps, ought to rank with Grierson's famous march 
through Mississippi in 1863. And it happened, that, 
going by this unintended route, Croxton was able to 
make complete the destruction of the iron-making 
plants and nitre factories in Alabama, one of the 
special objects of the campaign of the corps. 

Close upon Croxton's rejoining, on the 1st of May^ 
came the historically famous order of the Secretary of 

' Probably Colonel Benjamin J. Hill of the 35th Tennessee. 



THE END OF THE WAR, 517 

War of the 21st of April, annulling Sherman's conven- 
tion, and directing that hostilities be resumed at once 
and the rebel chiefs be captured. A few days later 
were received the remarkable orders of General Halleck 
to army commanders (issued on the 26th, after he had 
learned that Johnston had finally, on that day, fully 
surrendered all his command to Sherman), directing 
them to " obey no orders of Sherman," and to " push 
forward and cut off Johnston's retreat." But Secretary 
Stanton's order was deprived of effect in Georgia, in 
respect to a renewal of hostilities, by the news then 
already received of the regular and entire capitulation, 
on the 26th, of all the enemy's forces commanded by 
Johnston and Beauregard, being all then east of the 
Chattahoochee. 

Thus, then, on the 1st of May, at Macon, the cam- 
paign was closed. There might be further work for 
the cavalry in the field west of the Chattahoochee, or 
against partisan or guerrilla bands east of it, but the 
great prospect of a share in the grand campaign of 
Richmond was lost, — there could be no more war in 
the Atlantic States. 

The command had been forty days in the enemy's 
country, beyond supply or support of other troops; 
had crossed many rivers, some of them large, all but 
one at high flood, and only two by bridges already 
constructed ; had taken by assault three fortified cities, 
and captured in action of the enemy more than half its 
own numbers, with artillery and small-arms many 
times the whole of its own equipment, breaking up 
and dissipating the enemy's forces in two States ; had 
destroyed or caused the destruction of cotton of the 
value of over one hundred million dollars, and other 



5i8 STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

property of the Confederate war department of fully 
twice that value/ Every other campaign of the war 
sinks into insignificance when compared with this, 
in respect to the destruction of the enemy's means 
of carrying on hostilities. And the whole command 
was in excellent condition, animated by a perfect 
esprit de corps, taught by the finest experience what 
deeds lay within theii* power, and confident now that 
they could clo anything that men may dare. 

In the spirited language of Wilson : " These troopers 
never went around a place they should have gone 
through. They justly claim that they never got 
within sight of a gun that they did not take, whether 
posted in open field, behind breastworks, or beyond 
streams; that they never made a charge that failed^ 
never lost a bridge of their own nor permitted the 
enemy to burn one over which he was retreating." 
Upton, with the soldierly confidence which so emi- 
nently characterized him, declared after Columbus, that 
" with his single division he could traverse the Con- 

' These values are given as of the standard at that time prevailing in the 
North. In the money of the Confederacy they v/ould be at least two hundred 
times the amounts here stated. In gold perhaps one hundred millions could 
have replaced the property destroyed. 

Within thirty days the corps had marched an average of 525 miles, fought 5 
important battles and many minor engagements, captured nearly 7,000 men in 
arms, including 5 generals and nearly 500 lesser officers, 23 colors, 288 pieces 
of artillery, about 100,000 stand of small-arms, 2 gunboats, 5 steamboats filled 
with army supplies, about 5,000 horses and mules, 7 foundries, 7 iron-works, 2 
rolling-mills, 7 large machine-shops, 13 factories for clothing and army equip- 
ments, and many minor factories, 5 collieries, 4 nitre-works, 3 arsenals and 
contents, I navy-yard and contents, i powder magazine, I naval armory, I 
military university, 35 locomotives, 565 cars, 3 principal railroad bridges and a 
number of smaller ones, 235,000 bales of cotton, and immense quantities of 
quartermasters' and commissaries' stores. 

The march from Montgomery to Macon, a distance of two hundred and 
fifteen miles, was made in six days, with two decisive battles fought midway 
for the passage of the Chattahoochee. 



THE END OF THE WAR. 519 

federacy from end to end and from side to side, carrying 
any kind of fortifications by assault, and defying cap- 
ture by any kind or amount of force that might be 
sent against him." And Winslow closed the campaign 
with this order : 

Headquarters First Brigade, 

Fourth Division, Cavalry Corps, M. D. M., 

Macon, Ga., April 22, 1865. 
General Orders ) 
No. 2. S 

Soldiers : The Brevet Brigadier-General Commanding 
congratulates you upon the success which has crowned your 
efforts. 

In one month you have marched six hundred miles, en- 
gaged the enemy in force four times, completely routing him 
on each occasion. 

You have captured on the field of battle 3,100 prisoners, 
II stand of colors, 33 guns, 25 caissons, and 3,500 small- 
arms. You have aided in destroying vast arsenals, foun- 
dries, factories, and workshops, with their contents. The 
enemy cannot recover from these terrible blows. 

You have proven that cavalry can successfully assault 
fortified positions. Dismounted, you drove the enemy in 
greatly superior numbers from his strong works in front of 
Columbus. Mounted, you dashed through his lines, astound- 
ing him by your audacity and its results. 

While we rejoice, let us not forget the fallen ! 

By command of Bvt. Brig.-Gen. Winslow. 

A. Hodge, A.A.A.G. 

The actual captures of the Fourth Iowa in the cam- 
paign, made distinctly apart from other troops, were 
2,438 of the enemy ,^ including 146 officers, 21 pieces of 
artillery, 10 flags, about 2,000 stand of small-arms, 
and about 1,000 horses. 

' Three times the number of the regiment engaged in the campaign. 



5 2o STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

The entire loss of the corps was 13 officers and 86 
men killed, 39 officers and 559 men wounded, and 7 
officers and 21 men missing. 

The loss of the Fourth Iowa was only 1 officer and 
2 men killed, 2 men mortally wounded, 22 men 
wounded, none missing, and 150 horses killed, wounded, 
and abandoned. 



CHAPTEE XIII. 

THE DEATH OF LINCOLN PUESUIT AND CAPTURE OF DAVIS 

ARREST OF STEPHENS, TOOMBS, MALLORY, REAGAN, 

HILL, AND JOHNSON OCCUPATION OF GEORGIA AND 

FLORIDA. 

MUSTERED OUT ! HOME ! 

Among the crowning events of that last week of 
April, two of the most conspicuous have not been 
told. At about the same time, perhaps on the same 
day, the 23d, the soldiers were thrilled by the news 
of the assassination of Lincoln and the flight of 
Davis. The first was not credited, and the men 
were slow to believe it even when confirmed. The 
tale could be easily invented, and it was hard to 
realize that such a crime could be committed in the 
free United States. But even while the men refused 
to believe it, they were deeply and dangerously af- 
fected by it. Their expressions and conduct were 
so plainly marked that the officers watched them for 
some days in much anxiety. They were now freely 
mixing with the citizens, and paroled rebel soldiers 
were passing daily by thousands on their way to their 
homes. Distressing results might have followed any 
indiscreet word or act on the part of a Southerner in 
those days. 

521 



5 2 2 STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT, 



The effect of the assassination upon the negroes was^ 
however, still more distinct. They were frightened. 
They had looked upon Lincoln as a sort of great 
master, a savior of their race. In their minds, vaguely, 
he was something more than man, and it was a shock 
to find that he could be killed. The overthrow o£ 
slavery was due to his personal decree and power, and 
now they would be bound again and made to suffer 
cruelly for accepting the liberty he had offered. For 
days the trembling creatures could not be induced to 
leave the camps, and it was only slowly and with diffi- 
culty that they could be made to realize that their 
former masters were finally deprived of power over 
them and that the results of the war could be secured 
without the hand of the Emancipator. 

Fortunately, the flight of Davis and his Cabinet 
served to occupy in part the attention of the corps at 
this time. It was at first assumed as most likely that 
they would be caught before they could reach Georgia, 
but Wilson, without orders, took care to prepare for 
their capture if they should cross the Savannah. 
Though unable for some days to move bodies of troops 
in such a manner as to gain any material advantage,, 
he had the railroads carefully watched, kept con- 
trol of the telegraph, and observed the movements 
of all men of influence. Immediately upon news of 
Johnston's final surrender, he sent Upton to Augusta, 
with a small detachment, and ordered the main body 
of the division to Atlanta, under Winslow. McCook, 
with a detachment of his division, was sent to Albany, 
with orders to extend his movement and control from 
there to Tallahassee, while Croxton, with the remainder, 
was held at Macon, to watch the line of the Ocmulgee. 



PURSUIT AND CAPTURE OF DAVIS. 523 

Minty, with the Second Division, was sent to the south- 
west, to occupy the country from the Ocmulgee at 
Abbeville across the Flint to the Chattahoochee at 
Eufaula, The ostensible and immediately practical 
object of these dispositions was to occupy the country, 
to preserve order, to secure military prisoners and 
property, and to hold strategic points and lines of com- 
munication ; but all the commanders were directed to 
maintain a vigilant watch for Davis and other Con- 
federate chiefs. Within a few days, however, direct 
orders were received to pursue and capture Davis, and 
the watch became a search in all the divisions. 

From Southern citizens, paroled Confederates, and 
other sources, Wilson had been able to obtain some 
information of the movements of Davis and the circum- 
stances of his flight, from which he believed that the 
plan was, to cross the Savannah above Augusta, toward 
either Athens or Dahlonega, to move thence southwest 
through northern Georgia and Alabama, and finally to 
reach Kirby Smith in Louisiana, where, with an army 
which had not weakly surrendered and would never 
surrender, Davis insisted that the fortunes of the Con- 
federacy would yet be saved. Upon this belief Wilson 
increased his guards to the northwest and ordered the 
lines to be further extended. Later news and instruc- 
tions were sent to Alexander, who had already gone 
to Atlanta, a detachment from Croxton's brigade was 
sent into Alabama, to watch the mountain country 
between Talladega and the Chattahoochee, and Wins- 
low, ordered to Atlanta with the remainder of the 
Fourth Division, was to watch and scout the space from 
Croxton's left on the Ocmulgee to the Chattahoochee. 

At daybreak on the 5th of May the Fourth Iowa 



524 STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 



left its liot camp on the Ocmulgee, crossed the river, 
moved out through the charming suburb of Vinefield, 
and took the Atlanta road. It found itself at the head 
of the division, and the men knew the objects of the 
march. The column moved rapidly, and by night was 
beyond Forsyth, thirty miles from Macon, though the 
great heat made it necessary to halt several hours on 
the way. The next day, the Second Brigade in front, 
the march extended to Griffin. Now, having passed 
the left of Croxton's line along the Ocmulgee, a careful 
watch was organized. The column was stretched out 
as far as possible, every man was reminded of the pos- 
sible glory awaiting him, many scouts and side marches 
were made, and every road, lane, and possible passage- 
way was watched. It was feared that Davis would 
try to escape alone, or with only one or two attendants, 
since no rebel troops in a body could now reasonably 
hope to get through the country. As the report that 
he had crossed the Savannah and was moving south- 
west was fully credited, every man was filled with 
exciting hopes. Not only the detailed guards, but nearly 
every man and officer, were on the alert that night and 
several nights following. Many of the scenes, and even 
of the petty incidents, of those days are still recalled. 

Perhaps the sharpest impression was made by a 
handbill, which, on the Tth or 8th of May, suddenly 
appeared on trees and buildings at the side of the roads, 
offering a reward of $100,000 for the capture of Jeffer- 
son Davis ! It was strange and hard to realize. Not 
the least of the strangeness was in the fact that the 
bills could remain in place, that there was nobody in 
Georgia to tear them down, nobody to fight those 
who put them up. 



PURSUIT AND CAPTURE OF DAVIS. 525 

Companies were cletaclied and left or sent to occupy 
diiferent places deemed important in respect to the 
roads or the topography of the country, while Wins- 
low with the remainder of the division and the heads of 
the regiments moved on to Atlanta. The men in the 
marching column were now much interested in the 
scenes along the road. About Lovejoy's and Jones- 
boro every hill and ridge was crowned with the 
defensive earthworks which had been thrown up by 
the opposing forces of Sherman and Hood eight months 
before. Indeed, the entire road to Atlanta for thirty 
miles was marked by these significant signs of the close 
and bloody contest. The little pit of a vidette, the 
redan of a picket post, the light entrenchments and rail 
barricades of a skirmish line, and the massive bastions 
and rifle-pits of main lines, they seemed at places to 
cover the whole face of the country, showing that the 
struggle had been at arm's length, and that both ad- 
vance and retreat had been made only step by step and 
with determined obstinacy. 

On the 9th the headquarters of the division, the 
brigade, and the regiment were established at Atlanta ; 
and, excepting a small force to hold the post, the re- 
maining companies were distributed about the country 
in all directions, in the effort to catch the rebel chiefs. 
But it was not to be the fortune of the Fourth Iowa, 
nor of its brigade or division, to catch the great one. 
Only one thing worth recording occurred within the 
division in the search for Davis. 

General Alexander had been sent by rail to Atlanta, 
ahead of the division, with five hundred men chosen from 
his own brigade, under orders to scout the countiy toward 
Dahlonega and Dalton, connecting with the troops of 



526 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

General Steedman expected down from Chattanooge 
He and others, or all, of the division and brigade coie 
manders were authorized to send out detachment 
disguised as rebel soldiers, in the hope of obtainini 
exact information of the position and movement o 
Davis and his escort. Lieutenant Joseph A. O. Yeomai 
First Ohio Cavalry, then on Alexander's staif, volur 
teered for this service, and at Atlanta was placed ii 
command of twenty picked men, disguised as Confec 
erates. This daring young officer, already highl; 
distinguished for bravery in the late campaign, led hi 
men directly toward the Savannah, struck Davis' lin 
of march, and boldly added his party to the columr 
He found that Davis had an immediate escort of abou 
one hundred, covered by the remnant of Wheeler' 
cavalry corps, numbering about two thousand, in tw 
divisions, under General George G. Dibrell, with Gei 
eral Samuel W. Ferguson second. General Wheeler, b; 
arrangement with Davis at Charlotte, N. C, had gon 
back to Greensboro to get more troops, but Davis th 
same day found it prudent to leave for the south witl 
out awaiting his return. A train of ten or twelv 
wagons accompanied the column, which were popular! 
said to be loaded with many millions in gold coii 
They were probably loaded chiefly with provisions an< 
ammunition, though there was some specie, probabl 
several hundred thousand dollars. 

Yeoman and his men marched with the column se\ 
eral days, and until it reached Washington, a tow 
about one hundred and twenty miles northeast froi 
Macon and about midway between Augusta an^ 
Athens. Here the faithfulness of the rebel soldiei 
gave out. No doubt they realized that they must soo: 



PURSUIT AND CAPTURE OF DAVIS. 527 

meet Wilson's men if they continued to move in a 
body, and that it was not good to be killed when the 
war was really over, when there was no longer any- 
thing practical to fight for. Probably, too, they were 
demoralized by their knowledge of the treasure they 
were guarding, and thought they had better make sure 
at least of their pay, because at any hour the fortune 
of war might put them into a position in which they 
would certainly get nothing. Officers and men alike 
refused to march farther, and insisted upon a share of 
the money. Davis found it impossible to move them, 
and he was left to his fate by all except a few officers 
and about fifteen soldiers. The others received or took 
a part of the coin, either as arrears of pay or by mere 
distribution, and promptly disappeared. The deserted 
chieftain in bitter sadness was compelled to abandon his 
plans. Now he sought only to flee the country. He under- 
took to reach the Gulf by the shortest route. Mounted 
on a good horse, with his wife and his score of faithful 
followers, he moved directly south. Knowing that Ma- 
con was occupied by Wilson, he kept well to the east of 
that city, and rode night and day for the Florida coast. 
Yeoman suffered a keen disappointment. He had 
not only been seeking information, as instructed, but 
had been boldly planning to seize Davis and carry him 
off. He observed the halt and apparent irresolution 
at Washington, and gained some information of the 
trouble. He had been thus far kept at a distance 
from Davis by the close care of the guards, so that 
when the force broke up and moved in parties in dif- 
ferent directions he was at a loss. He divided his men 
as well as he could, and sent them on different roads, 
but lost sight of Davis. 



528 STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

Amono; the detacliments sent out in various dire< 
tions from Macon, one furnislied by the Fourth lowj 
from Companies A, D, and K, commanded by Captai 
Abraham, was started on the 3d of May for Washing 
ton. He arrived there on the 6th, hardly a day afte 
the disbandment. He must have passed the Davi 
party, then on its way south on a road farther eas 
within a few miles. 

Abraham promptly confirmed Yeoman's report, bu 
Wilson had already, upon that report and upon othe 
information received at the same time, become coi 
vinced that Davis would attempt to reach Florida. H 
therefore urged the greatest vigilance in watching th 
Ocmulgee, and sent one hundred and fifty men of th 
First Wisconsin, of Croxton's (McCook's) division, undt 
Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Harnden, with special ordei 
to march as rapidly as possible to and down the Ocone 
River. The next day, the 7th, he was so impressed b 
the idea that Davis was somewhere .east of Macon an 
moving southward, that he ordered out another regimen 
the Fourth Michigan, of Minty's division, under Liei 
tenant-Colonel Benjamin D. Pritchard, to march at th 
highest speed down the right bank of the Ocmulgee an 
cover all the crossings to the mouth of the Ohoopee. 

Colonel Harnden left Macon the evening of the 6tl 
marched southeast to Dublin on the Oconee, thenc 
south near the right bank of the river, and finall 
southwest to Brown's Ferry, near Jacksonville, whei 
he crossed the Ocmulgee. Colonel Pritchard wee 
directly down the right bank of the Ocmulgee, an 
met Harnden at Abbeville early on the 9th. Harnde 
had got directly upon the track of the Davis partj 
who, he believed, were moving south westward, nc 
more than ten or twelve hours ahead. He therefor 



PURSUIT AND CAPTURE OF DAVIS. 529 

took the road toward Irwinville, twenty miles south- 
west of Abbeville, while Pritchard, following his 
orders, which covered the capture of other rebel 
chiefs as well as Davis, continued his march along 
the Ocmulgee. Within a few miles, however, he ob- 
tained information which convinced him that Davis 
and other noted rebels were in the party on the Irwin- 
ville road. He turned his column about, marched at 
the utmost speed by a circuitous route south of the 
main road to Irwinville, and reached that village be- 
fore daybreak of the 10th. He was in time. Davis 
had halted to let his party sleep a few hours, and was 
in camp a mile east of the village, on the Abbeville 
road. Pritchard found the camp, and, dividing his men, 
surrounded and approached it closely without being dis- 
covered. As soon as the coming day gave light enough 
he sprang u,pon the camp, and the famous President 
of the Confederacy was a prisoner, though he almost 
escaped to the forest covered by feminine garments. 
With him were taken Mrs. Davis, John H. Reagan, his 
Postmaster-General, Colonel Burton N. Harrison, his 
private secretary, six other officers, and thirteen soldiers. 

Colonel Harnden had the trying disappointment to 
find himself only a few minutes too late, but he philo- 
sophically took the head of the column, on the return 
march to Macon, as guard of the great captive. Both 
Harnden and Pritchard were rewarded for their success, 
as well as for honorable and efficient service in the late 
campaign, by promotion. They were brevetted brigadier- 
generals. It should be said that neither Harnden's 
nor Pritchard's men knew that a reward was offered 
for the capture of Davis until they returned to Macon. 

On the 13th, the news of the capture reached Atlanta, 
and orders were despatched to bring in to that post all 



530 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



the outlying detachments of the division engaged in th 
search. On the 14th, Davis and his wife passed throng 
Atlanta, by rail, on their way to Augusta and Savannal 
thence to go by sea to Washington. The party stoppe 
at Atlanta to take breakfast and to have some cai 
added. Of course many of the Fourth Iowa and otht 
soldiers gathered at the station to see the object of thei 
greatest hatred, but he was treated with not the leas 
unkindness. In adjusting the bell-rope in the recoi 
structed train a considerable portion of it was left ten 
porarily in Davis' car, as is often seen on trains. I 
pulling from another car that portion flew about, an 
for a moment caught around Davis' head and shoulder 
He put up his hands to throw it off, when his wife cam 
and helped him, with the remark, " It 's not time y( 
for tliat, Jeff ! " 

Thou2;h the Fourth Iowa did not have the fortun 
to capture Davis, it brought in others of the note 
Confederate leaders. One of its detachments froi 
Company F, under Sergeant Loughridge, arreste 
Alexander H. Stephens, the Vice-President, at Athens 
another, from Company E, under Captain Saint, tli 
notorious Robert Toombs, senator, cabinet ministe 
and general, at Washington ; another, from Compan 
H, under Captain Fitch, Stephen R. Mallory, the Seer 
tary of the Navy, and Benjamin H. Hill, senator an 
general, at LaGrange ; and another, from Company 1 
under Captain Pray, Herschel V. Johnson, who ha 
been the candidate for Vice-President on the Dem< 
cratic ticket with Stephen A. Douglas in 1860. Ui 
fortunately, the officer sent for Toombs suffered hii 
to slip away, and he escaped to Mexico. 

These prisoners, with others, were sent north by wa 
of Chattanooga, and were all afterward released wit] 



OCCUPATION OF GEORGIA AND FLORIDA. 531 

out trial. Three of them, Mallory, Hill, and Cobb, 
were started together for New York, guarded by a de- 
tail from the Fourth Iowa, under Sergeant Charles F. 
Craver of E ; but Cobb was released at Nashville, 
probably because he was considered a military prisoner 
rather than a political one. 

Meantime, and even while the search for Davis and 
his councillors was in progress, there was plenty of 
work laid out for the troops. The corps was charged 
with the occupation of nearly all Georgia and Florida. 
The paroled soldiers of Lee's army began to arrive in 
Georgia before the end of the month, and when John- 
ston's were added, early in May, the numbers increased 
to several thousand a day. Those belonging to other 
commands who had not yet been paroled, gathered 
from all directions, assembled at the towns, and gave 
their paroles in large numbers. Nearly sixty thousand 
were paroled by authorized officers of Wilson's corps 
before the end of May, of whom one tenth were officers. 
Over five thousand were paroled by Captain Abraham, 
of the Fourth Iowa, at Washington.^ The able-bodied 

' To show the form of these paroles, a copy of one in the writer's possession 

is here given : 

Headquarters Cavalry Corps, M. D. M., 

Macon, Ga., May 10, 1865. 

I the undersigned, H. J. Moody, a Private of the 13th Georgia Infantry, do 
solemnly swear that I will not bear arms against the United States of America, 
or give any information or do any military duty whatsoever until regularly ex- 
changed as a prisoner of war. 

(Signed) H. J. Moody. 

Description : Height, 5-6 ; Hair, light ; Eyes, blue ; Complexion, fair. 

I certify that the above parole was given by me on the date above written on 

the following conditions : The above-named person is allowed to return to his 

home, not to be disturbed by the military authorities of the United States so 

long as he observes this parole and obeys the laws which were in force previous 

to January i, 1861, where he resided. 

By order of Brevet Maj.-Gen. Wilson. 

G. H. Kneeland, 

Captain & Provost-Marshal C. C. M. D. M. 



t 



532 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

paroled soldiers in Georgia alone on the 1st of June 
must have mucli outnumbered the combined Confeder 
ate armies east of the Alleghanies on the 1st of April 
if their own reports of their numbers in the field are tc 
be credited. It seems to be true that hardly one fourtl 
of the Confederates were in the field or on duty in th( 
last campaigns. Where were the others ? 

All these men had to be cared for to some extent 
Many of them and their families must have had hare 
times that summer, for it was late to plant, and storec 
provisions had been consumed and destroyed by botl 
armies for a whole year. General Wilson issued t( 
them the stores of the Confederate forces wherevei 
they could be found, and his own as far as he dared 
and after the railway was opened to Chattanooga the 
United States commissaries and quartermasters wen 
directed to supply them with necessities. The condi 
tion of the poor, and even of families formerly prosper 
ous, was meantime most pitiful. Wholly unable tc 
get food in the desolated country about Atlanta, the) 
gathered in the town, and accepted even the smallesi 
charity in food. Large numbers of them had nc 
shelter, nor any means of paying for anything the} 
received. Even refined women had no better protec 
tion than was afforded by the covers of the old carriages 
or wagons in which they came. The court-house anc 
the churches, being the only public buildings left ir 
Atlanta after Sherman's destruction, were used as fai 
as possible for these unfortunates ; but when the 
Chattanooga railway was again in operation they were 
better cared for. 

Some of these people had gained a little monej 
or bread through the winter and spring by a peculiai 



OCCUPATION OF GEORGIA AND FLORIDA. 533 

industry, whicli failed for lack of a market when the 
Union army again occupied the country. It was 
often observed about Atlanta, that the trees near en- 
trenchments were marked with ragged holes and that 
the surface of the earthworks had been much dug up. 
This was explained by the pathetic story that the poor 
people of that desolated region had been digging for 
bullets shot in battle between the hostile forces in 
Sherman's campaign, and had sold the lead to the 
Confederate ordnance officers for a little money or meal. 

The railway to Chattanooga was a subject of deep 
interest to the troops at Atlanta. That was the way 
home. The route to Savannah and by the sea was 
like the way to another world. From the 1st of May, 
when they knew that the war was over, their desire to 
go home, and their conviction that they ought to be 
permitted to, go, grew stronger every day. They had 
an idea that when the railway was open to Chatta- 
nooga the government could manage affairs in Georgia 
with a small number of troops, and that the most 
of the regiments would be free to be discharged. 
They had enlisted for the war, and just as soon as 
the war was really ended they ought to be released. 

So the two subjects of all others most interesting 
up to July were the muster-out of other regiments, 
news of which was constantly heard, and the work on 
the railway. It had been destroyed several times be- 
tween Marietta and Atlanta, the last time with special 
care by Sherman, when he set out on the " March to 
the Sea." Two very large bridges were required for 
the Chattahoochee and the Etowah, as well as many 
lesser ones, and thirty or forty miles of the track 
required reconstruction. General Winslow personally 



534 STOR Y OF A CA VALR V REGIMENT. 

superintended the work, pushing it with his character- 
istic energy, and General Steedman was busy at the 
Chattanooga end. Captain Whiting of the Fourth 
Iowa, a practical constructor, directed the bridge-build- 
ing, and heavy details from the regiment and division 
were constantly employed under him. Early in June 
the road was opened, and the news brought great 
satisfaction and very pleasing hopes of muster-out 
to the Fourth Iowa and its neighboring regiments. 

Immediately came plentiful supplies and regular 
mails from the North. For more than two months 
there had been but little news beyond that contained 
in Sherman's military despatches to Wilson. The rail- 
ways in the Carolinas being broken up, the only route 
from the North was by sea from Washington to 
Savannah, thence by river to Augusta. Sherman had 
come to Savannah about the 1st of May, to provide for 
the supply of the corps, and a few days afterward small 
quantities of commissary stores were received at At- 
lanta and Macon, There was not enough at Savan- 
nah to justify the issue of full rations, but coffee and 
sugar were again furnished, after ten days of disagree- 
able deprivation; and with these and the captured 
Confederate hard-bread and meat, which were thought 
to be very poor in quality, the men had managed for a 
month more. But the absence of letters and news- 
papers from the North was a greater trial. One or 
two mails had come by Savannah, but many had accu- 
mulated at Chattanooga, and when at last these arrived, 
all together, there was but one thing lacking to com- 
plete happiness, — release from the army. 

When the brigade first came to Atlanta it was 
encamped on the road extended from Peachtree Street, 



I 



OCCUPATION OF GEORGIA AND FLORIDA. 535 



about two miles from the court-house, which then stood 
on the site of the present capitol. After some weeks 
the Fourth Iowa was ordered to provost duty in the 
city, and Colonel Peters was assigned to the command 
of the post. Many companies and detachments were, 
however, kept on duty at out-lying towns. They 
were chiefly occupied in preserving order, protecting 
property, and paroling Confederate soldiers. In this 
service Captain Abraham with parts of A and D, was 
at Washington ; Captain Fitch, wdth parts of H and 
B, was at LaGrange, and afterward at Madison ; Cap- 
tain Pray, with L, was at Griflin, and other ofiicers 
with detachments at other towns in the district. A 
detachment from H and B, under Lieutenant Blasier, 
went to Augusta, and held the great arsenal and pow- 
der-works there, until relieved by infantry. Lieutenant 
Reynolds, with part of F, made a forced march to 
Dalton, to carry the news of the capture of Davis 
to General Steedman. All of the regiment not on 
detached service was kept very busy with the care 
and government of Atlanta. Business quickly revived 
there, the building of new stores and dwellings began, 
and after the railway was opened to Chattanooga, the 
city very rapidly regained its former importance. The 
headquarters of the regiment and the post were in 
the court-house, the tents of the field-and-staif were 
pitched in the adjoining grounds, and the companies 
not detached were camped in vacant lots half a mile to 
the east. 

On the 7th of June an order was received from the 
War Department,^ under which, on the 8th, in honor of 
the dead President, thirteen guns were fired at dawn, 

1 General Orders No 66, War Department, A. G. O., April i6, 1865. 



536 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

tlie post flag was run to half-mast at sunrise, one gun 
was fired every half-hour until sunset, and a national 
salute of thirty-six guns closed the day. All troops 
were paraded in the morning to hear the order read, 
all employments then ceased for the day, and the cus- 
tomary badge of mourning was worn on the colors and 
on the swords and left arms of officers. 

Of course the 4th of July of that year was cele- 
brated with great feeling in all the armies of the 
United States. Colonel Peters made considerable 
preparations for it at Atlanta. He collected all the 
troops within his reach, put them into the best order, 
and, with several military bands, paraded the streets, 
not forgetting the important feature of suitable 
speeches in the court-house grounds. As he had 
hoped, the citizens showed interest in the movement, 
some of them even gathering to hear the speaking, 
and a good indication of the temper of the people 
was obtained. 

But it was not possible to get the soldiers to take 
any more than a passing interest in any subject but 
the one great one of discharge. No suggestions of the 
condition of the Southern States, or arguments as to 
their duty, could much affect their fixed idea that it 
was a wrong to keep them in the service in time of 
peace when they had enlisted only "for the war"; 
and it was seriously offensive to them to find them- 
selves doing mere police-duty in Georgia when they 
were sure it was their " right " to be at their own em- 
ployments in Iowa. 

In May the men who had enlisted in the Fourth 
Iowa in 1862 were sent north, under Captain Whiting, 
to be mustered out, their three years' service having 



HOME! 537 



ended. About tlie same time the War Department 
issued orders for the discharge of all volunteers of the 
cavalry whose term of service would expire before the 
1st of October, all in hospital except veterans, and all 
who had been prisoners of war and had not yet re- 
turned to their regiments.^ Upon this the veterans 
reasoned, with soldiers' logic, that they were being 
punished for re-enlisting as veterans. They really sup- 
posed however, as did the people of the North, that it 
would be necessary to keep a considerable body of 
troops in the South for an indefinite time. It was 
expected that, however well the regular Confederate 
soldiers who had laid down their arms might conduct 
themselves, the bands of guerrillas, who had been so 
savage and treacherous during the war, would retire 
to the mountains and unsettled portions of the country, 
to keep up a, petty and exasperating warfare, requiring 
the use of many regiments of cavalry on the part of the 
United States. This proved to be a mistaken judgment, 
but the government at Washington shared it with the 
people and the soldiers, and much care was taken by 
the War Department for some months after the sur- 
render, to prepare troops for such a service. If it 
should become really necessary to yield to the demand 
of the volunteers for their release, the regular army 
would have to be increased ; but the government hoped 
to retain some of the best regiments of volunteers. 

About this time boards of examiners were appointed 
from Washington,^ who went to the posts and camps, 
and called up all the officers of the volunteers, for 
examination in respect to their relative merits, with a 

' General Orders No. 77, April 28, 1865, and No. 83, May 8, 1865, War 
Department, A. G. O. 

^ General Orders No. 86, War Department, A. G. O., May 9, 1865. 



538 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

view to the discharge of some and the retention of 
others. One of the boards appeared at Atlanta in 
June. The men looked upon its proceedings with sus- 
picion and disapproval, and when a little later, June 
28th, an order was received from Upton, then at Nash- 
ville, requiring a report of the numbers of the Third 
and Fourth Iowa, with an intimation that it was in- 
tended to fill those regiments to the maximum by 
disbanding the Fifth Iowa and transferring its enlisted 
men, the Third and Fourth were sure that they were 
chosen to remain in the service, and their indignation 
was much increased.^ They went on doing all duty 
assigned, as probably they would have done if they 
had been retained much longer, though they objected 
and complained, not only to their officers, but to their 
friends and to the men of influence in the North. They 
had plentiful supplies, regular mails, good shelter, and 
safe employment, but they saw nothing good, because 
they lacked the two things they wanted above all, — 
liberty and home. 

About the middle of June the Tenth Missouri was 
ordered to Nashville. There, on the 26th, it was dis- 
banded, the veterans being transferred to "Merrill's 
Horse," another Missouri cavalry organization, and 
the others discharged. Upton met the Missourians 
at Nashville, and very much gratified them by his 
acknowledgment of their long and arduous service. 
Referring to the fact that the regiment had begun its 
fighting career in one of the first battles of the war, 
at Wilson's Creek,^ where the famous Lyon was killed, 

' The Fourth Iowa, under this order, reported 5 officers and 325 men lacking 
of the maximum, June 29, 1865, but the regiment was not filled up. The Fifth 
Iowa was not disbanded, but was mustered out in August. 

^ It was then known as Bowen's Battalion. 



HOME ! 539 



lie said that it had since often distinguished itself, and 
that its deeds under his command, its destruction of 
the iron-works at Montevallo in the face of Roddey's 
division sent specially to protect them, its repeated 
assaults later in the day upon superior numbers, driv- 
ing the enemy in every instance, and finally its charge 
at Columbus, through entrenchments manned by in- 
fantry and artillery, would ever rank among the most 
daring feats of cavalry. 

Early in July Company G, with all its officers, re- 
joined the regiment at Atlanta, and remained with it 
until muster-out. In its escort duty with Upton, the 
company had served at Augusta and afterward at 
Nashville, Upton having been relieved from duty with 
the corps and placed in charge at the latter place of 
the vast Edgefield cavalry camps. At both places the 
whole company was kept almost incessantly upon duty. 
A part of its service was in guarding the specie taken 
from the famous train with which Davis had tried to 
escape. This they carried from Augusta to Nashville, 
where it was finally delivered to Treasury officers, who 
took it to Washington. 

The duty of a general's escort is not merely to ride 
near him for his protection or show. Even in camp 
the men are kept much more employed than those of 
other companies, and in an active campaign they work 
under constant pressure, often riding by night as well 
as by day. Only a part of their time is spent with the 
general. They are sent off on long and perilous 
marches, and take part in engagements the same as 
other troops. Under Upton's busy and impetuous 
orders. Company G found but small chance for rest, 
and none for idleness. At Montevallo, at Ebenezer 



540 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

Church, and at Columbus, it shared in the battle with 
distinguished credit. 

With the return of G came the news of the dissolu- 
tion of the Corps. The greater part of the volunteer 
armies had been discharged, the remainder were reor- 
ganized as to corps and divisions, and Georgia became 
a separate department,^ under Major-General Steedman, 
with headquarters at Augusta. On the last day of 
June the cavalrymen were electrified by an order for 
the discontinuance of the organization of the Cavalry 
Corps of the Military Division of the Mississippi and 
the discharge of many of the regiments. 

The men had become very proud of their corps and 
very much attached to it, and it was with genuine 
regret and sorrow that they thought of its separation. 
It had done so much within its short life, and had 
gained such spirit and zeal, that there seemed no limit 
to its powers. But there were many gratifying re- 
wards, in the commendation of its de.eds by those best 
able to judge and in the promotions and other honors 
given to the men whose fortune it had been to meet 
special opportunities for soldierly deeds. 

Medals of honor were struck, under orders of the 
War Department, for the soldiers who had particularly 
distinguished themselves, and, on a grand parade ordered 
for the purpose, some men in each regiment were pub- 
licly decorated.^ At the same time promotions were 

* General Orders No. ii8, War Department, A. G. O., June 27, 1865. 

''■ In the Fourth Iowa these men were : Private Nicholas Fanning, of B, who 
captured a Confederate flag and two officers at Selma ; Private Charles G. Swan, 
of C. who captured the flag of the rebel Eleventh Mississippi at Selma ; Private 
James P. Miller, of D, who captured the standard of the Twelfth Mississippi 
Cavalry, with its bearer, at Selma ; Corporal Richard H. Morgan, of A, Ser- 
geant Norman F. Bates, of E, Private John H. Hays, of F, Private Eli Sher- 
man, of I, Privates Richard H. Cosgriff and John Kinney, of L, each of whom 



HOME! 541 



made among the officers wherever there were vacancies, 
and there being many more officers who had seized 
great opportunities, they were recommended, with high 
praise, for promotion by brevet. Generals Wilson, 
Long, Upton, and Alexander were all advanced in the 
regular army, and many o£ the volunteer colonels and 
lieutenant-colonels were brevetted generals. The bri- 
gade, division, and corps commanders joined in recom- 
mending for brevet promotion many officers in brigade 
and regimental service.^ 

And the generals, division, corps, and army, pub- 
lished their final orders, which filled all hearts with 
pride. The soldiers will be glad to see them here again 
in print : 



Headquarters Fourth Division, 

Cavalry Corps, M. D, M., 
Edgefield, Tenn., June 10, 1865. 



General Orders 
No. 21. 



Before severing his connection with the command, the 
Brevet Major-General Commanding desires to express his 
high appreciation of the bravery, endurance, and soldierly- 
qualities displayed by the officers and men of his division in 
the late cavalry campaign. 

Leaving Chickasaw, Alabama, on the 22d of March, as a 
new organization and without status in the Cavalry Corps, 

captured a Confederate standard and its bearer at Columbus ; Private Edward 
J. Bebb, of D, who captured a Confederate flag at Columbus ; Private Robert 
C. Wood, of A, who, at Columbus, was captured, escaped, and returning with 
comrades, captured the colonel and the adjutant of the rebel regiment which 
had held him ; and Sergeant Robert Skiles, of G, who, acting as orderly to 
General Upton, at Columbus, showed great personal bravery. 

' In the Fourth Iowa, Majors Pierce and Woods to be lieutenant-colonels ; 
Captains Abraham and Fitch to be majors ; First-Lieutenant J. Sloan Keck and 
Second-Lieutenant Peter R. Keck to be captains ; and Second-Lieutenant 
Loyd H, Dillon to be first-lieutenant. 



542 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

you in one month traversed six hundred miles, crossed six 
rivers, met and defeated the enemy at Montevallo, capturing 
one hundred prisoners ; routed Forrest, Buford and Roddey in 
their chosen position at Ebenezer Church, capturing two 
guns and three hundred prisoners ; carried the works in your 
front at Selma, capturing thirteen guns, eleven hundred 
prisoners and five battle flags ; and finally crowned your 
successes by a night assault upon the enemy's entrenchments 
at Columbus, Georgia, where you captured fifteen hundred 
prisoners, twenty-four guns, eight battle flags, and vast 
munitions of war. 

On the 2 1st of April you arrived at Macon, Georgia, 
having captured on your march three thousand prisoners, 
thirty-nine pieces of artillery and thirteen battle flags. 

Whether mounted with the sabre or dismounted with the 
carbine, the brave men of the Third, Fourth, and Fifth 
Iowa, the First and Seventh Ohio, and Tenth Missouri 
Cavalry triumphed over the enemy in every conflict. 

With regiments led by brave colonels and brigades 
commanded with consummate skill and daring, the Divi- 
sion, in thirty days, won a reputation unsurpassed in the 
service. 

Though many of you have not received the reward to 
which your gallantry has entitled you, you have neverthe- 
less received the commendation of your superior officers 
and won the admiration and gratitude of your countrymen. 

You will return to your homes with the proud conscious- 
ness of having defended the flag of your country in the 
hour of the greatest national peril, while through your 
instrumentality liberty and civilization will have advanced 
the greatest stride recorded in history. 

The best wishes of your Commanding General will ever 
attend you. 

E. Upton, 
Brevet Major-General Commanding. 
Ofificial : 

James W. Latta, 
Ass't. Adj't-Gen'l. 



HOME! 543 



Headquarters Cavalry Corps, M. D. M., 
Macon, Ga., July 2, 1865. 

General Orders ) 
No. 39. S 

To the Officers and Men of the Cavalry Corps, Military 
Division of the Mississippi : 

Your Corps has ceased to exist ! The rebellion has ter- 
minated in the re-establishment of your country upon the 
basis of nationality and perpetual unity. Your deeds have 
contributed a noble part to the glorious result ; they 
have passed into history and need no recital from me. In 
the nine months during which I have commanded you, I 
have heard no reproach upon your conduct, have had no 
disaster to chronicle ! 

The glowing memories of Franklin, Nashville, West 
Harpeth, Ebenezer Church, Selma, Montgomery, West 
Point, and Macon may well fill your hearts and mine with 
pride. 

You have learned to believe yourselves invincible, and 
contemplating your favorable deeds, may justly cherish that 
belief. You may be proud of your splendid discipline, no 
less than your courage, zeal, and endurance. The noble 
impulses which have inspired you in the past will be a 
source of enduring honor in the future. Peace has her 
victories no less than war. Do not forget that clear heads, 
honest hearts, and stout arms, guided by pure patrio- 
tism, are the surest defense of your country in every 
peril. Upon them depend the substantial progress of your 
race and order of civilization, as well as the liberty of all 
mankind. 

Let your example in civil life be an incitement to 
industry, good order, and enlightenment, while your deeds 
in war shall live in the grateful remembrance of your 
countrymen. 

Having discharged every military duty honestly and faith- 
fully, return to your homes with the noble sentiment of 
your martyr President deeply impressed upon every heart : 



544 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

With malice against none, and charity for all, strive to do 
the right as God gives you to see the right. 

Jas. H. Wilson, 
Official : Brevet Major-General. 

Ed. p. Imhoff, 

Capt. Sc A. A.-Gen'l. 

War Department, 

Adjutant General's Office, 

Washington, D. C, June 2, 1865. 

General Orders / 
No. 108. S 

Soldiers of the Armies of the United States : 

By your patriotic devotion to your country in the hour 
of danger and alarm — your magnificent fighting, bravery, 
and endurance — you have maintained the supremacy of the 
Union and the Constitution, overthrown all armed opposi- 
tion to the enforcement of the laws, and of the Proclamation 
forever abolishing Slavery — the cause and pretext of the 
Rebellion, — and opened the way to the rightful authorities 
to restore order and inaugurate peace on a permanent and 
enduring basis on every foot of American soil. 

Your marches, sieges, and battles, in distance, duration, 
resolution, and brilliancy of result, dim the lustre of the 
world's past military achievements, and will be the Patriot's 
precedent, in defense of Liberty and Right, in all time to 
come. 

In obedience to your country's call, you left your homes 
and families and volunteered in its defense. Victory has 
crowned your valor and secured the purpose of your patriot 
hearts ; and with the gratitude of your countrymen, and 
the highest honors a great and free nation can accord, you 
will soon be permitted to return to your homes and families^ 
conscious of having discharged the highest duty of American 
citizens. 

To achieve these glorious triumphs, and secure to your- 
selves, your fellow-countrymen, and posterity, the blessings 



HOME! 



545 



of free institutions, tens of thousands of your gallant com- 
rades have fallen, and sealed the priceless legacy with their 
lives. The graves of these a grateful nation bedews with 
tears, honors their memories, and will ever cherish and 
support their stricken families. 

U. S. Grant, 
Official : Lieutenant-General. 

W. A. Nichols, 

Assistant Adjutant-General. 

With these great and well-earned praises ringing in 
their ears, and gladdened by reading in newspapers 
and letters of the pride and gratitude of their friends 
at home, the anxious volunteers passed July with more 
content. If the names of their regiments were not on 
the happy list for discharge when the Corps was dis- 
solved, they took hope and expected to see them on 
the next one. , 

They had not long to wait, though it seemed long 
enough. General Thomas, who was still in command 
of the grand military division, in July received author- 
ity from the War Department to designate regiments 
for muster-out in his discretion. Some good friend of 
the Iowa regiments, probably General Upton, induced 
him to choose those in Upton's division, the Third, 
Fourth, and Fifth. On the 2d of August, by telegraph, 
he directed General Steedman, commanding the De- 
partment of Georgia, to muster-out the Third and 
Fourth then in his department. General Steedman 
made the necessary orders, and sent them to Atlanta, 
where they were received on the 5th. What a glad 
commotion in the camps ! The detachments were at 
once called in, and, amid unceasing fun-making and 
joyous excitement, the work of preparing the rolls was 

35 



5 46 STOR Y OF A.CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

hurried through. A mustering-officer arrived from 
Augusta, and on the 8th the rolls of the companies 
were completed and signed, the Fourth Iowa was 
assembled on parade, with full ranks, General Winslow 
in his place as Colonel, and this order was read : 

Headquarters First Brigade, 

Fourth Division, Cavalry Corps, M.D.M., 

Atlanta, Ga., August 7, 1865. 
General Orders ) 
No. 3. \ 

Comrades : The war is ended. The last order you obey 
directs your return to your homes. Let your future be as 
commendable as your past has been glorious. 

Your career as soldiers is over. You go home as citizens, 
to reap the reward of your campaigns. Your country will 
always cherish the memory of her brave defenders. 

Eight States have been traversed by your columns. Their 
soil has been consecrated by the blood of your companions. 
Your victories will impress their localities on your minds. 

Though the battles of this war are over, let us recollect 
that those of our lives continue to the end, that our orders 
are from HiM whose plans are always successful, and that 
justice is no less a divine attribute than mercy. 

I shall hear of your behavior in civil life, and believe that 
you will daily evidence the fact that well disciplined soldiers 
can become equally good citizens. 

During the long period in which I have been associated 
with you, I have had many occasions to be proud of your 
conduct, and have often rejoiced that I commanded such 
brave men. 

While I regret to separate from such gallant officers and 
men, I rejoice with you that our country is intact and 
united, our government stronger than ever, and that the 
necessity for our armed service no longer exists. 

Confident that when again required, you will be as ready 
to take the carbine and sabre as you now are to abandon 



HOME! 547 



them, I part from you with many and sincere wishes for 
your future prosperity and happiness. 

E. F. WiNSLOW, 
Official : Brev. Brig.-Gen. 

A. Hodge, 

Captain and A. A. A. G. 

For several minutes after the order was read no one 
thought to move or to give any direction. The 9th 
was occupied by the muster-out of the Third Cavalry, 
and the Fourth waited one day. On the 10th the iield- 
and-staff rolls of the Fourth were signed, and, for the 
last time, the old regiment was drawn up in line ; and 
when the last formal act was done, the Colonel, with 
trembling voice and tear-filled eyes, declared the 
Fourth Iowa Cavalry Veterans no longer in the service 
of the Union. It was four years and one day since the 
first company, was organized. 

But it was the duty as well as the policy of the 
government to disband the volunteers in their own 
States, and the Fourth Iowa remained under the 
orders of the War Department two weeks longer. On 
the 1 2th, still under the orders of its officers, it turned 
its back upon Atlanta and the great field of war in 
which it had toiled so long and learned so much, and 
set out by rail for Davenport, Iowa. It was seven 
days on the way. The narrow means of the railways 
of those days and the great demand upon them for 
military transportation made any rapid movement 
impracticable. 

When the regiment arrived it was quartered in 
Camp McClellan, the same camp occupied by Com- 
panies A and B when they came to Davenport, burn- 
ing to get into the service, four years before. The 



548 



STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



Third Cavalry was already there, busy about its 
discharge. Other regiments were there for the same 
purpose, and the camp was a busy place. The affairs 
of the Fourth Cavalry could not be completed until 
the 24th. On that day the men, with nervous hands, 
signed their last rolls, received their discharge papers, 
and went out into the town with strange feelings, 
hardly able to realize their freedom. 

The next morning the Adjutant, detained to turn 
over to the authorities the completed records, received 
his final papers, and went down through the principal 
streets alone. He saw only one man of the regiment. 
The Fourth Iowa no longer existed : it had already 
gone back to the people. 




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APPENDIX. 
ENGAGEMENTS AND CASUALTIES. 

This list does not include all the fighting in which the Fourth 
Iowa Cavalry was engaged, but only those contests in which it 
suffered some loss or which were important in respect to the 
movements in which they occurred. It would not be possible 
now, even if it were worth while, to give an account of all its 
minor conflicts and skirmishes. On some days, especially in cer- 
tain of the Mississippi campaigns, there was a succession of such 
engagements, without any loss worth mentioning in the regiment. 

Only the casualties which occurred in conflict with the enemy 
are here given. All casualties will appear in a roll of the regiment 
which it is intended to print separately. 

The regiment, after being ordered, first, in December, 1861, to 
New Albany (Louisville), where it would have been in the De- 
partment and Army of the Ohio, and next, in January, 1862, to 
Ft. Leavenworth, where, likely, it would have had to take part in 
the cruel and fruitless warfare of the border, was at last, under a 
third order, sent to General Halleck, then at St. Louis in command 
of the Department of the Missouri. 

General Halleck at once ordered it into the field, to reinforce 
General Curtis, who, with the Army of the Southwest, was then 
confronting a superior force of rebels under Van Dorn and Price 
in the northwest corner of Arkansas. On its march, at Springfield, 
Mo., it was stopped by an order from Curtis, his campaign having 
been just ended by his victory at Pea Ridge. 

Then, in April, 1862, its first regular campaign was begun, in 
Curtis' movement against Little Rock. Its marches in that 
campaign occupied from April 14 to July 15, 1862, and led 

549 



550 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

from Springfield, by Ozark, Forsyth, and Vera Cruz, to West 
Plains, Mo. ; thence by Batesville, to Searcy, Ark. ; thence by 
Batesville, Jacksonport, Cottonplant, and Clarendon, to Helena 
on the Mississippi, with many minor expeditions, scouts, and 
foraging-trips. Some part or all of the regiment met the enemy 
ten or twelve times in this campaign, but only five are thought 
important enough to be recorded. 

1 (page 37). NITRE CAVE, ON WHITE RIVER, ARK. 

April 18, 1862. 

Detachments of Co's G and K, under Capt. James T. Drummond. 
Force and commander of the enemy unknown. 
No loss in Drummond's command. 
Enemy's loss unknown. 

2 (page 37). TALBOT'S FERRY. 

April 19, 1862. 

Detachment of Co. F, under Lieut. William A. Heacock. En- 
gagement renewed later by detachments of E, G, and K, all under 
Capt. James T. Drummond. 

Force and commander of the enemy unknown. 

Union loss, i killed, — Lieut, William A. Heacock. 

Enemy's loss unknown. 

3 (page 41), LITTLE RED RIVER, OR BROWN'S FORD. 

June 3, 1862. 

Co's C and H, under Capt. Watson B. Porter. 
Enemy, cavalry, number and commander unknown. 
Porter's loss : 2 wounded and 3 captured, of Co, C, 
Wounded : Corps, Benjamin F, Browning and Charles Butcher. 
Captured : the two wounded and Pvt, Andrew J, Murdock, 
The captured returned in August, 1862, on parole, and were 
exchanged. 

Enemy's loss unknown, 

4 (page 43). WHITE RIVER, OR MT. OLIVE. 

June 7, 1862. 

Co. F, under Capt. Edward F. Winslow. 
Force and commander of the enemy unknown. 



APPENDIX. 



551 



Loss of Co. F : Corp. John G. Carson, mortally wounded, died 

the same day. 
Enemy's loss unknown. 

5 (page 43). GIST'S PLANTATION. 

July 14, 1862. 

Foraging party of Co. F, 12 men, under Sergt. Hira W. Curtiss. 

Enemy, 100 cavalry, under Lieut-Col. Chappel. 

Loss of Co. F : i killed, 5 wounded, and 5 captured. 

Killed : Pvt. Richard Harrison. 

Wounded : Corp. Joseph Cline, Pvts. Henry R. Sadler, Jabez 

Sibley, James W. Butler, and John Dwire. 
Captured : The three first-named wounded and Pvts. William 

McCabe and William A. McWhorten. 
The captured were all paroled within a few days, and were 
exchanged and returned to service. 
Enemy's loss unknown. 



From July 15, 1862, to April 28, 1863, the regiment was near 
Helena, Ark., part of a constantly changing force which held the 
right bank of the Mississippi there, while Grant and Sherman were 
trying to reach Vicksburg by way of Corinth and Grenada, Its 
service was incessant scouting, reconnoitring, and foraging, with 
more important expeditions against Arkansas Post and Grenada. 
There were many petty engagements in this service, but only five 
involving loss to the regiment. 

6 (page 49). POLK'S PLANTATION. 

Sept. 20, 1862. 

Detachment of Co. D, a picket-post. 

Enemy, cavalry, number and commander unknown. 

Loss of Co. D : i killed, i wounded, and 3 captured 

Killed : Pvt. David Mosher. 

Wounded : Pvt. Jehoida Worth. 



552 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

Captured : Pvts. Jehoida Worth, John W. Hinkson, and Henry 

Shopbell. 
The captured were exchanged and returned, November, 1862. 
Enemy's loss unknown. 



7 (page 50). JONES' LANE, OR LICK CREEK. 

Oct. II, 1862. 

Detaf^" of Go's A, G, and H, 50 men, under Major Ben- 

jamin n. Engagement renewed by Go. B, 40 men, under 

Lieut, V J'ge B. Parsons. 

Enemy^ the Twenty-first Texas Cavalry, under Lieut.-Col. 
DeWitt G. Giddings. 

Loss of the regiment : 4 killed, 6 wounded, 15 captured. 
Killed : Go. A, Pvt. John W. Allen. 

Co. G, Pvts. Watson Frame, Cornelius W. Jackson, and 
John W, Williams. 
Wounded : Co. A, Pvt. Levi B. Williamson. 

Co. B, Lieut. George B. Parsons, Com.-Sergt. Lo- 
renzo D. Wellman, and Pvts. James A. 
Gray and Milton Piatt. 
Co. G, Sergt. Thomas W. Hanks (died of his wounds, 
Nov. 28, 1862). 
Captured : Major Rector. 

Co. A, Sergt. Asahel Mann, Corp. Isaac M. Irwin, 
Pvts. John W. Allen (killed after capture), 
William W. Davis, and Henry Drake. 
Co. B, Pvts. Francis McNulty and Alfred Morris. 
Co. G, Lieut. Alexander Rodgers, Bugler Thomas 
E. Arnold, Pvts. John Corbin, Robert P. 
McAuley, Samuel B. Mann, and Alexan- 
der Riddle. 
Co. H, Corp. George W. Miller. 
The captured were all returned, paroled, in November, and 
were exchanged, Dec. i, 1862. 

Enemy's loss, in killed and wounded, unknown ; in prisoners, 
Lieut.-Col. Giddings and 11 of his men. 



APPENDIX. 553 



8 (page 55). MARIANNA. 

Nov. 8, 1862. 

Detachments of Go's B, D, H, and L, 100 men, under Capt. John 
H. Peters. 

Enemy, cavalry, mounted, number and commander unknown. 
Peters' loss : 22 wounded — 

Lieut. Warren Beckwith, Acting Reg'l Quartermaster. 

Co. B, Capt. John H. Peters, Pvt. Frederick L. Wells. 

Co. D, Lieut. John T. Tucker, First '" ^ -gt. Amon L. Ogg, 



Pvts. Benjamin F. Morgai. \n M. Wilson, 
and four others whose nam'v?^ \ not now 
learned. 

Co. H, Lieuts. Asa B. Fitch and Stephen W -^ oesbeck, 
Corp. Charles W. Sisson, and six otners whose 
names are not now learned. Sisson died of 
his wound, Dec. 3, 1862. 

Co. L, two men whose names are not now learned. 
Enemy's loss : killed, 7 (or 17) ; wounded, unknown ; captured, 
14, including a major and a captain. 

9 (page 62). BIG GREEK. 

March 8, 1863. 
Detachment of the regiment, 250 men, under Major Cornelius 
F. Spearman. 

Force and commander of the enemy unknown. 
Spearman's loss : i killed, Pvt. Benoni F. Kellogg, Go. L. 
Enemy's loss unknown. 

10 (page 64). WITTSBURG. 

April 8, 1863. 

Detachments of several companies, 100 men, part of a detach- 
ment of 400 from Clayton's cavalry brigade at Helena, all under 
Major Edward F. Winslow of the Fourth Iowa. 
Force and commander of the enemy unknown. 
Loss of Fourth Iowa : i killed, 7 wounded, all of Go. L. 
Killed : Pvt. Daniel Lorrigan. 

Wounded : Corp. Samuel O. Black, Pvts. Henry Fleming, 
George W. Sheppard, Richard Major South, 
and three others whose names are not found. 



554 STOJ^Y OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST VICKSBURG. 

May I to July 4, 1863. 

In this campaign the regiment marched from Milliken's Bend, by 
Richmond, to Hard Times, La., there crossed the river to Grand 
Gulf, and then marched to Cayuga, Raymond, Jackson, Browns- 
ville, Bridgeport, Haines' Bluff, and Vicksburg ; and, during the 
investment, incessantly scoured the whole country between the 
Big Black, the Mississippi, and the Yazoo, below Lexington, 

11 (page 81). FOURTEEN-MILE CREEK. 

May 12, 1863. 

The regiment, under Lieut. -Col. Simeon D. Swan. 

Enemy : Wirt Adams' cavalry, dismounted, number unknown. 

Loss of the regiment : i killed, 3 wounded. 

Killed : Co. F, Pvt. Jabez Sibley (also wounded in action^ 

Gist's Plantation : see page 551). 
Wounded : Co. D, Corp. Asa Andrews and Pvt. William L. Ray.. 

Co. L, Pvt. Charles W. Lash. 
Enemy's loss unknown. 

12 (page 83). MISSISSIPPI SPRINGS. 

May 13, 1863. 

The Second and Third Battalions of the regiment, as the 
advance of Sherman's Corps. 

Force and commander of the enemy unknown. 
No loss in the regiment. 
Enemy's loss, if any, unknown. 

13 (page 83). JACKSON (FIRST). 

May 14, 1863. 

In the first attack upon and capture of Jackson, the Fourth 
Iowa, under Lieut.-Col. Simeon D. Swan, was the left flank of 
Sherman's Corps. Enemy commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Joseph 
E. Johnston. 

Loss of Union army, 42 killed, 258 wounded and missing. 

No loss in Fourth Iowa. 

Enemy's loss, 845 killed, wounded, and captured. 



APPENDIX. 555 



14 (page 93). HAINES' BLUFF. 

May 18, 1863. 

Company B, under Captain John H. Peters. 
The fortress was occupied by Captain Peters without fighting, 
and 20 of the enemy were taken in it. 

15 (page 95). VICKSBURG. 

May 19 to July 4, 1863. 

Union forces commanded by Maj.-Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, the 
enemy by Lieut.-Gen. John C. Pemberton. 

The Fourth Iowa Cavalry was employed on outpost duty in the 
rear, between the Big Black and Yazoo Rivers, against the advance 
of Gen. Johnston. 

16 (page 98). MECHANICSBURG (FIRST). 

May 24, 1863. 

A provisional cavalry force, under Lieut.-Col. Simeon D. Swan, 
including the Fourth Iowa, under Maj. Alonzo B. Parkell. 

The enemy, cavalry, probably the brigade of Col. Wirt Adams, 
Loss of Fourth Iowa : Pvt. Francis R. Walker, Co. F, wounded. 
Enemy's loss unknown. 

17 (page 99). MECHANICSBURG (SECOND). 

May 29, 1863. 

The regiment, under Maj. Alonzo B. Parkell. 
The enemy, cavalry, under Col. Wirt Adams. 
Loss of the regiment, 6 wounded. 
Wounded : Maj. Edward F. Winslow. 

Co. B, Sergt. John W. Corbin. 

Co. E, Pvt. Henry F. Parks. 

Co. K, First-Sergt. William A. Bereman, Pvts. 
Alonzo Cantwell and Isaac M. Vaughn. 
Vaughn died of his wounds, June 10, 1863. 

Co. M, Corp. William C. Henderson. 
Enemy's loss unknown. 



556 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

18 (page 103). BEAR CREEK, OR JONES' PLANTATION. 

June 22, 1863. 

Detachment from Go's A, F, I, and K, 120 men, under Maj. 
Alonzo B. Parkell. The enemy, two regiments of Wirt Adams' 
cavalry, under Lieut. -Col. Robert C. Wood, Jr. 

Loss of Fourth Iowa, 8 killed, 17 wounded, 36 captured (in- 
cluding 8 of the wounded). 

Killed : Co. A, Pvts. James Buttercase, Andrew J. Chapel, 

Wilson S. Hunt, John McClintock, John 
Mann, George W. Van Doran. 
Co. K, Corp. John M. Frame, Pvt. John W. Yancey. 
Wounded : Co. A, Sergt. William T. Biggs (died of his wounds 

June 25, 1863), Corp. Charles N. Smith, 
Pvts. James A. Livingston, Levi B. Wil- 
liamson. 
Co, F, Corp. Cornelius Carter, Bugler James G. 

Henshaw, Pvt. Henry B. Wagers. 
Co. I, Lieut. Wm. J. McConnellee, Sergt. Geo. W. 
Caskey, Pvts. William Johnson, Thomas 
Miner. 
Co. K, Lieut. Joshua Gardner (died of his wounds, 
June 30, 1863), Sergt, James O. Vanors- 
dol, Pvts. Silas Bogue, Charles Foster, 
William Hole, James D. Moore (died 
of his wounds, June 30, 1863). 
Captured : Co. A, Corps. Charles N. Smith and Joseph W. 

Pierce, Pvts. William Dean, James G. 
Fletcher, Doran T. Hunt, James A. 
Livingston, Isaac S. Scott, John S. Shirley, 
Levi B. Williamson. 
Co. B, Pvt. Cyrus Washburn. 

Co. F, Sergts. Hira W. Curtiss, Joseph Glasgow, 
Corps. Jonathan Anthony, Elijah Busby, 
and Cornelius Carter, Bugler James G. 
Henshaw, Pvts. James Andrews, Solomon 
Bremen, Abraham Pelham, Henry R. Sad- 
ler, Henry B. Wagers. 
Co. I, Lieut. Wm. J. McConnellee, Pvts. John B. 
Anderson, Thomas M. Bird, Robert 



APPENDIX. 557 

(Captured : Co. I., Campbell, Russell G. Currier, William 
continued!) Johnson, Alexis Lull, Thomas Stewart. 

Co. K, Corps. Richard W. Bayles, David Cavenee, 

William Miller, Pvts. Harlan Jameson, 

John A. Kirkpatrick, Francis S. Ramey, 

Robert S. Stockton. 

All the captured were exchanged and returned to service in 

October, 1863, except Lieut. McConnellee, who remained in 

prison a long time and was finally exchanged and discharged from 

the service without returning to the regiment, and Pvt. Livingston, 

who was reported to have died in the enemy's hands. 

Enemy's loss, uncertain, but at least 15 killed, 16 wounded, and 
I missing : see page 106. 

SHERMAN'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST JOHNSTON. 

July 5 to 20, 1863. 

19 (page 119). SIEGE OF JACKSON (SECOND CAPTURE). 

July II to 17, 1863. 

Union forces. Ninth, Thirteenth, and Fifteenth Army Corps, com- 
manded by Maj-Gen. Sherman. Cavalry, a provisional brigade 
under Col. Cyrus Bussey, including the Fourth Iowa under Col. 
Edward F. Winslow. Enemy, four divisions of infantry and 
artillery in Jackson under Gen. Johnston, and two brigades of 
cavalry outside under Brig.-Gen. William H. Jackson. 

20 (page 121). BEAR CREEK, NEAR CANTON. 

July 12, 1863. 

The regiment, under Colonel Winslow. 

Enemy, some part of Jackson's cavalry, number unknown. 

No loss in the regiment. Enemy's loss unknown. 

21 (page 121). CANTON. 

July 17, 1863. 

Bussey's Brigade of cavalry and Woods' Brigade of infantry, 
with four guns, 2,000 in all, under Col. Bussey. 

Enemy, Jackson's cavalry estimated at 2,000, with two guns. 



558 STOR Y OF A CA VALR V REGIMENT. 

Bussey's loss, 15 killed and wounded. No loss in Fourth Iowa, 
Enemy's loss, killed and wounded, not learned ; captured, 72. 

22 (pages 127 to 138). GRENADA RAID. 

(From Vicksburg to Memphis.) 

August 10 to 25, 1863. 

Part of the Cavalry Forces of the Fifteenth Army Corps, 800 
men, under Col. Edward F. Winslow, including 375 of the Fourth 
Iowa, under Major Alonzo B. Parkell. 

Enemy, different bodies of cavalry, encountered from Winona 
to Hernando, numbers and commanders unknown. 
Loss of Fourth Iowa, 6 missing. 
Missing : Co. A, First-Sergt. Caleb J. Allen. 

Co. C, Corp. James H. Davidson, Pvt. Charles H. 

Smith. 
Co. H, Pvts. James M. Carson, Harvey W. Case. 
Co. L, Pvt. George Dashman. 
Of the missing, Carson died in prison at Richmond, May 30, 
1864 ; Allen died Jan. 2, 1864, immediately after release from 
prison ; Case, Davidson, and Dashman were in time exchanged 
and returned to service ; and Smith escaped after a few days' 
captivity and rejoined the regiment at Memphis. 

Loss of enemy, killed and wounded, unknown ; captured 55. 

23 (page 136). COLDWATER RIVER. 

August 21, 1863. 

Third and Fourth Iowa, under Colonel Winslow, the Fourth 
Iowa under Major Parkell. 

Force and commander of the enemy, unknown. No loss in the 
Fourth Iowa ; 4 wounded in the Third Iowa. 

Loss of enemy, if any, unknown. 

MINOR OPERATIONS IN MISSISSIPPI 

from Sept. i, 1863, to Feb. i, 1864, headquarters of the regiment 
on the Big Black River and on Clear Creek, rear of Vicksburg, 
including two demonstrations upon Canton in favor of Sherman's 
movements of troops from Memphis to Chattanooga, and an 
expedition against Wirt Adams' cavalry near Natchez. 



APPENDIX. 559 



24 (page 163). MOORE'S FORD. 

September 30, 1863. 

Part of the Cavalry Forces of the Fifteenth Army Corps, 900 
men, under Colonel VVinslow, including 300 from the Fourth Iowa, 
under Capt. William Pursel. 

Enemy, cavalry, under Brig.-Gen. John W. Whitfield, number 
unknown. 

No loss in Winslow's command. 

Loss of enemy in killed and wounded, unknown ; captured, 8. 

25 (page 167). BROWNSVILLE. 

October 15, 1863. 

Cavalry brigade, now the Cavalry Forces of the Seventeenth 
Army Corps, under Colonel Winslow, including the Fourth Iowa, 
under Major Spearman. 

Enemy, cavalry, under Maj.-Gen. Stephen D. Lee. 

No loss in Winslow's command. Loss of enemy, if any, unknown. 

26 (page 168). THE BOGUE CHITO. 

Octoberi6, 1863. 

Forces, same as in last engagement. 

Loss of Fourth Iowa : i killed, Pvt. John Ireland, Co. B. 
Loss of enerny not reported, but several found dead and 
wounded on the field. 

27 (page 169). LIVINGSTON. 

October 17, 1863. 

Union forces, two divisions of infantry and artillery under Maj.- 
Gen. James B. McPherson, with the cavalry brigade under Colonel 
Winslow. 

Enemy, infantry, artillery, and cavalry, numbers unknown, 
under Maj -Gens. Loring and Lee. 

Loss of Fourth Iowa : i killed, i captured. 

Killed : Co. I, Sergt. George W. Caskey (also, wounded at Bear 
Creek : see page 556). 

Captured : Co. M, Pvt. Samuel R. White (died Sept. 25, 1864, 
in prison at Andersonville, Ga.). 

Loss of enemy not reported. 



56o STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

SHERMAN'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST MERIDIAN. 
February 3 to 28, 1864. 

Union forces, four divisions of infantry and artillery, from 
Sixteenth and Seventeenth Corps, under Maj.-Gens. Hurlbut and 
McPherson, with Col. Winslow's Cavalry Forces, about 1,500 men 
(including the Fourth Iowa, 400, under Major Spearman), all 
under Gen. Sherman. 

Enemy, two divisions of infantry and artillery, under Maj.-Gens. 
Loring and French, and four brigades of cavalry under Maj.-Gen. 
Stephen D. Lee, with Wirt Adams, Starke, Ross, and Ferguson as 
brigadiers, all under Lieut- Gen. Leonidas Polk. 

Union loss : 21 killed, 68 wounded, 81 missing. 

Loss of enemy : killed and wounded not reported ; captured 
250, of whom 40 were taken in action by the Fourth Iowa. 

28 (page 189). BIG BLACK BRIDGE. 

February 3, 1864. 

The regiment, under Major Spearman. 

Enemy, cavalry of Wirt Adams' Brigade, number unknown. 
Loss of the regiment : i wounded, Corp. John McCallum, 
Co. B. 

Loss of enemy, if any, unknown. 

29 (page 190). RAYMOND ROAD. 

February 4, 1864. 

Winslow's cavalry, including the Fourth Iowa. 

Enemy, cavalry, commanded by Gen. Lee, number unknown. 

No loss in the Fourth Iowa. Loss of enemy unknown. 

30 (page 191). BAKER'S CREEK. 

February 4, 1864, 

Forces, same as in last engagement. 

Loss of Fourth Iowa : i captured, Corp. Luther P. Chandler, 
Co. H. 

Loss of enemy unknown. 



\ 



' 



APPENDIX. 561 

31 (page 193). JACKSON (THIRD). 

February 5, 1864. 

Forces, same as in last engagement. 

No loss in the Fourth Iowa. Loss of enemy not reported. 

32 (page 198). CLINTON. 

February 5, 1864. 

Co. C, Fourth Iowa, under Capt. Warren Beckwith, escort to 
Maj.-Gen. Andrew J. Smith. 

Enemy, cavalry, number and commander unknown. 
No loss in Co. C. Loss of enemy, if any, unknown. 

IZ (page 202). MORTON. 

February 9, 1864. 

Winslow's cavalry, including the Fourth Iowa. 
Enemy, Cavalry, Polk's rear-guard, number and commander 
unknown. 

No loss in Fourth Iowa. Loss of enemy unknown. 

34 (page 202). TUNNEL HILL. 

February 10, 1864. 

Forces, same as in last engagement. 

No loss in Fourth Iowa, Loss of enemy, many killed and 
wounded, but number not learned ; see page 202. 

35 (page 204). TALLAHATTA. 

Night of February 13, 1864. 

Winslow's cavalry, including the Fourth Iowa. 

Force and number of the enemy unknown. 

No loss in Fourth Iowa. Loss of enemy not learned. 

36 (page 206). MERIDIAN. 

February 14, 1864. 

Winslow's cavalry, including the Fourth Iowa. 
Enemy, a brigade of cavalry under Brig.-Gen. Samuel W. 
Ferguson. 

No loss in the Fourth Iowa. Loss of enemy not learned. 

36 



562 STOR Y OF A CA VALR Y REGIMENT. 

FIRST CAMPAIGN OF STURGIS AGAINST FORREST. 

From Memphis, by Moscow and Bolivar, Tenn., Salem and Rip- 
ley, Miss., to Memphis : April 30 to May 12, 1864. 
No engagement. 

SECOND CAMPAIGN OF STURGIS AGAINST FORREST. 

From Memphis, by Lafayette, Tenn., to Ripley and Guntown, 

Miss., and return. 

June I to 13, 1864. 

Union forces, three brigades of infantry with twelve guns, 

under Col. William L. McMillen, and two brigades of cavalry 

with eight guns, under Brig.-Gen. Benjamin H. Grierson, 8,000 

in all, led by Brig.-Gen. Samuel D. Sturgis. 

Enemy, four brigades of cavalry with sixteen guns, about 6,000 
in all, under Maj.-Gen. Nathan B. Forrest. 

37 (page 234). RIPLEY. 

June 7, 1864. 

Third Iowa Cavalry, under Col. John W. Noble, and Fourth 
Iowa, under Maj. Abial R. Pierce. 

Enemy, the cavalry brigade of Brig.-Gen, Edward W. Rucker. 
Loss of Fourth Iowa : 2 wounded, 3 captured. 
Wounded : Co. K, Pvts. George W. Holt, Stewart B. Terry. 
Captured : Co. D, Pvt. George H. Bachelder. 

Co. K, Pvts. George W. Holt, Stewart B. Terry. 
The captured were exchanged and returned in January, 1865. 
Loss of enemy : 6 killed, wounded unknown. 

38 (page 236). BRICE'S CROSS-ROADS, OR GUNTOWN, 

called by the Confederates, " Tishomingo Creek." 
June 10, 1864. 

All of Sturgis' forces engaged, and all of Forrest's. 
Sturgis' loss : about 2,000 killed, wounded, and captured, 16 
guns, and 250 wagons. 

Forrest's loss : reported at 140 killed and nearly 500 wounded. 
Loss of Fourth Iowa: 2 killed, 18 wounded, 3 captured. 



APPENDIX. 563 



Killed : Co. C, Pvts. Milton W. Stall, Garrett Pilgrim. 
Wounded : Co. A, Sergt. William E. Jackson, Pvts, Henry J. 

Chapman (died of his wounds June 18, 
1864), William H. Chapman (died of his 
wounds June 21, 1864), Andrew J. 
Lovelady. 
Co. C, L/ieut. Loyd H. Dillon, Corp. George W. 
Saint, Pvts. Arsene Gerard, Charles 
Hilgrin, John Hoakinson, Alfred A. 
Peterson, Adolph Schloeder, John Straw, 
John Sutherland. 
Co. F, Pvts. Francis M. Noble, James B. Pearson. 
Co. I, Pvt. Albert Rice. 

Co. K, Sergt. Elisha M. Payne, and Pvt. Zur 
Rockhold. 
Captured : Co, A, Pvts. Ephraim Shaffer, John Adam Warner. 

Co. K, Pvt. Charles A. Swan. 
Of the captured, Warner was reported died in prison at An- ' 
dersonville ; Shaffer died Oct. 6, 1864, at Atlanta, on escape from 
Andersonville ; and Swan escaped and rejoined the regiment after 
five days, 

39 (page 258). RIPLEY (SECOND). 

June II, 1864. 
Third Iowa Cavalry, under Col. John W. Noble, and Fourth 
Iowa, under Maj. Abial R. Pierce, the brigade under Col. 
Winslow. 

Enemy, Rucker's and Bell's brigades of cavalry, under Forrest. 
Loss of Fourth Iowa : 3 killed, 10 wounded, 9 captured. 
Killed : Co. A, Pvt. Jeremiah Young. 

Co. E, Corp. Harvey R. Merriam. 
Co. H, Corp. Francis C. Coe. 
Wounded : Co. B, Bugler John McNulty, Pvts. Jonathan 

Morris and Patrick McHugh. 
Co. C, Pvt. John C. Hartman (died of his wounds 

June 24, 1864). 
Co. F, Corp. Simon Smith. 
Co. G, Pvt. Edwin Huntington, 
Co, H, Pvt. Andrew Laird (died of his wounds 
June 13, 1864). 



564 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

Co. I, Pvts. Thomas M. Wilkinson, John A. Mercer. 
Co. M, Pvt. Robert Hopkirk (died of his wounds, 
June 28, 1864). 
Captured : Co. B, Bugler John McNulty, Pvts. Leverett J. 

Littlejohn, Alfred A. Tracey. 
Co. D, Pvts. Daniel Saxton, Job A. Haines. 
Co. G, Pvts. Isaac Smith, Edwin Huntington. 
Co. I, Pvts. Thomas M. Wilkinson, John A. Mercer. 
Of the captured, Saxton, Haines, and Smith were exchanged 
and returned to service, Wilkinson was released by the close of 
the war, and all the others died in captivity : McNulty, Nov. 18, 
1864, at Millen, Ga. ; Littlejohn, Feb. 10, 1864, at Andersonville ; 
Tracey, Dec. 2, 1864; Huntington, Sept. 25, 1864, at Cahawba, 
Ala. ; and Mercer, Oct. 14, 1864, at Andersonville. 
Forrest's loss, not reported. 

FIRST CAMPAIGN OF SMITH AGAINST FORREST. 

From Memphis, by Saulsbury and Lagrange, Tenn., and Ripley, 
Miss., to Tupelo, and return. 

June 24 to July 23, 1864. 

Union forces, 13,000 infantry, under Brig.-Gen. Joseph A. 
Mower and Cols. David Moore and Edward Bouton, and 3,000 
cavalry, under Brig.-Gen. Benjamin H. Grierson, all under Maj.- 
Gen, Andrew J. Smith. 

Enemy, three divisions of cavalry under Forrest, and one of 
infantry, aggregate 12,000, all under Lieut.-Gen. Stephen D, Lee. 

Loss of Smith : 38 killed, 598 wounded, 38 missing. 

Loss of enemy (Confederate official reports) : 220 killed, 1133 
wounded, 84 captured, 

40 (page 284). RIPLEY (THIRD). 

July 7, 1864. 

Third Iowa Cavalry, under Col. John W. Noble, and Fourth 
Iowa, under Lieut-Col. John H, Peters. 

Enemy, part of Chalmers' Division of Forrest's cavalry, under 
Lieut-Col. Samuel M. Hyams. 

No loss in the Iowa regiments. Enemy's loss unknown. 



APPENDIX. 565 

4x (page 285). CHERRY CREEK. 

July 10, 1864. 

Winslow's Brigade of Grierson's Division, including the Fourth 
Iowa under Lieut. -Col. Peters. 

Enemy, part of Buford's Division of Forrest's cavalry. 

No loss in Winslow's command. Loss of enemy not reported. 

42 (page 287). HARRISBURG ROAD. 

July 13, 1864. 

Third Iowa Cavalry under Col. Noble and Fourth Iowa under 
Lieut. -Col. Peters. 

Enemy, Mabry's Brigade and Forrest's old regiment, led by 
Forrest in person. 

No loss reported on either side. 

43 (page 287). TUPELO. 

July 13, 1864. 

Winslow's Brigade of Grierson's Division, including the Fourth 
Iowa under Lieut. -Col. Peters. 

Enemy, Buford, with two brigades of his division. 

No loss in Winslow's command. Loss of enemy not reported, 
but seven left dead on the field. 

44 (page 287). TUPELO, 

called " Harrisburg " by the Confederates. 

July 14, 1864. 

This was the general battle of the campaign, all the forces on 
both sides being engaged. 

Losses not separately reported on either side ; but see losses 
of the campaign, page 564, the most of which were in this battle. 
Loss of Fourth Iowa : i killed, 4 wounded. 
Killed : Co. H, Corp. James Rooney. 
Wounded : Co. B, Pvt. Thomas McNulty. 

Co. K, Pvt. Church B. Rinard. 

Co. L, Pvt. Abner F. Davis. 

Co. M. Pvt. Andrew D. Smithburg. 

45 (page 290). OLD TOWN CREEK. 

July 15, 1864. 
Winslow's Brigade of Grierson's Division, including the Fourth 



566 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

Iowa, under Lieut.-Col. Peters, supported later by Mower's 
Division of infantry, with artillery. 

Enemy, Buford's Division, reinforced by Chalmers' Division, 
with two batteries, all commanded by Forrest. 

Losses not definitely reported on either side. Forrest severely 
wounded. 

Loss of Fourth Iowa : n wounded. 
Wounded : Co. A, Pvt. David League. 

Co. D, Pvts. Joseph W. Barton, Worthy S. Saunders. 
Co. G, Sergt. Polk Tibbetts, Pvts. Theodore S. 

Jackson, Robert Presley McAuley. 
Co. K, Pvts. Francis M. Vanorsdol, Charles M. Jewett, 

James Ritcheson, Frederick Teeman. 
Co. L, Pvt. Emile Myers. 

SECOND CAMPAIGN OF SMITH AGAINST FORREST. 

From Memphis, by Holly Springs, to Oxford, Miss., and return : 

August 3 to 30, 1864. 

Union forces, 7,000 infantry, in two divisions, under Gen. 
Joseph A. Mower and Col. William T. Shaw, and 5,000 cavalry, 
in two divisions, under Gen. Edward Hatch and Col. Edward F. 
Winslow. The Fourth Iowa Cavalry in Col. John W. Noble's 
brigade of Winslow's Division. 

Enemy, Buford's and Chalmers' divisions of cavalry, under 
Forrest. 

46 (page 293). TALLAHATCHIE RIVER. 

August 9, 1864. 

Noble's Brigade of the cavalry, including the Fourth Iowa, 
under Lieut.-Col. Peters. 
Enemy, Chalmers' Division. 
No loss in Noble's command. Loss of enemy not learned. 

47 (page 293). HURRICANE CREEK. 

August 9, 1864. 

Forces, same as in last engagement. 

No loss in Noble's command. Loss of enemy not learned. 



APPENDIX. 567 

48 (page 295). MEMPHIS. 

August 21, 1864. 

Union forces, various detachments holding the post of Mem- 
phis, under Gens. Buckland and Dustan, including Co. C of the 
Fourth Iowa Cavalry under Capt. Warren Beckwith. 

Enemy, 2,000 cavalry, under Forrest. 

Loss of Co. C : 2 wounded, Lieut. Losson P. Baker and Pvt. 
Edwin L. Boham. 

Forrest's loss : killed and wounded, about 80 ; prisoners, 30. 



CAMPAIGN AGAINST PRICE. 

From Memphis, by Clarendon, Little Rock, Batesville, and 
Pocahontas, Ark., to Cape Girardeau, St. Louis, Jefferson City, 
and Independence, Mo., Trading Post and Fort Scott, Kan., Pea 
Ridge and Fayetteville, Ark., Tahlequah and Weber's Falls, 
Ind. Terr., returning by Pea Ridge, Springfield, and Rolla, to 
St. Louis, Mo. : Sept. i to Nov. 30, 1864. 

Union forces during the fighting period of the campaign, from 
October 21st to 28th, a provisional cavalry division, about 6,000, 
under Maj.-Geh. Alfred Pleasonton, and several brigades, numbers 
unknown, of Colorado and Kansas cavalry and mounted militia, 
under Maj.-Gens. Samuel R. Curtis and James G. Blunt. The 
first three brigades in Pleasonton's Division were Missouri State 
troops, and the fourth a part (about 1200) of Winslow's Division, 
from Memphis, under Colonel Winslow, including 500 of the 
Fourth Iowa under Major Abial R. Pierce. 

Enemy, three divisions of cavalry, under Maj.-Gens. John S. 
Marmaduke, James F. Fagan, and Joseph O. Shelby, and one 
brigade of dismounted and unarmed men, under Col. Charles H. 
Tyler, with 16 guns, numbering in all, Oct. 21, about 18,000, com- 
manded by Maj.-Gen. Sterling Price. 

49 (page 320). INDEPENDENCE. 

October 22, 1864. 

Winslow's Brigade, but chiefly the Third Iowa, under Major 
Benjamin S. Jones : the Fourth Iowa also engaged. 
Enemy, Marmaduke's Division. 

Loss of Fourth Iowa : Pvt. John Koolbeck of Co. F, wounded. 
Loss of enemy not learned. 



568 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

50 (page 321). THE BIG BLUE. 

October 23, 1864. 

Winslow's and Phillips' Brigades, of Pleasonton's Division, 
under Winslow, including the Fourth Iowa under Major Pierce. 
Enemy, the two divisions of Marmaduke and Fagan. 
Loss of Fourth Iowa : 3 killed and 5 wounded. 
Killed : Co. B, Pvts. Thomas J. Cole and John Slavin. 

Co. I, Pvt. John M. D. Jacks. 
Wounded : Col. Edward F. Winslow. 

Co. B, Lieut. Thomas Bowman. 

Co. E, Pvts. Michael S. Cunning and John W. 

Rafferty. 
Co. I, Pvt. Abner Root. 
Loss of enemy not learned. 

51 (page 326). BIG BLUE PRAIRIE. 

October 23, 1864. 

Winslow's Brigade, under Lieut. -Col. Frederick W. Benteen, 
including the Fourth Iowa, under Major Pierce. 

Enemy, Shelby's old brigade, led by himself. 

Benteen's loss : i killed and i wounded. 

No loss in Fourth Iowa. 

Loss of enemy : 50 killed and wounded, and 100 captured. 

52 (page 328). THE TRADING-POST. 

October 25, 1864. 

Union forces, same as in last engagement. 

Enemy, Cabell's Brigade of Fagan's Division, holding the 
crossing of the Marais des Cygnes in Price's rear. 

No loss in Benteen's command. 

Loss of enemy : in killed and wounded not reported ; captured, 
about 100, with 2 guns and a part of his train. 

53 (page 331). MARAIS DES CYGNES, 

also called " Osage " and " Mine Creek." 

October 25, 1864. 

Winslow's Brigade, under Lieut.-Col. Benteen, with no guns, in- 
cluding the Fourth Iowa under Major Pierce. 



APPENDIX. 569 



Enemy, the two divisions of Marmaduke and Fagan, with 8 guns. 
Loss of Benteen's Brigade : 10 killed, about 50 wounded. 
Loss of Fourth Iowa : i killed, 6 wounded. 
Killed : Co. F, Lieut. Hira W. Curtiss. 
Wounded : Co. E, Corp. Charles Totten. 

Co. G, Pvt. Michael Hennessy. 

Co. I, Pvts. Francis M. Ammon, Charles W. Davis, 
Robert Ralston. 

Co. L, Pvt. Henry John Croll. 
Loss of enemy : killed and wounded not reported ; captured, 

1,200. 

54 (page 339). CHARLOT PRAIRIE, 

also called " Marmiton." 

October 25, 1864. 

Union force, same as in last engagement. 
Enemy, Shelby's Division. 
Loss of Fourth Iowa : 1 1 wounded. 
Wounded : Major Abial R. Pierce. 

,Co. A, Sergt. Joseph W. Pierce, Trumpeter Smith R. 
Crane. 

Co. E, Sergt. Hiram H. Cardell. 

Co. M, Pvt. Charles C. Sawyer, and 6 other enlisted 
men, whose names are not now known. 
Loss of enemy not reported. 

MINOR OPERATIONS 

of that portion of the regiment remaining at Memphis, during the 
Price campaign, scouting and reconnoitring in Tennessee and 
Mississippi, and holding the outposts of Memphis during the 
operations of Forrest and Hood in Tennessee : Sept. i to Dec. 20, 
1864. 

No engagements of the Fourth Iowa more than skirmishing and 
picket firing, except that at White's Station. 

55 (page 363). WHITE'S STATION. 

December 14, 1864. 

Detail from Co's A and B, 46 men, under Capt. Eldred Huff 
of A. 



570 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

Enemy, cavalry, under a Major Carpenter, and the guerrillas of 
Dick Davis and Ford, said to number 400 in all. 
Huff's loss : 3 killed, 8 wounded, 20 captured. 
Killed : Co. A, Pvt. John L. O'Brien (or Obrian). 

Co. B, Sergt. Joseph Gamble and Pvt. John B. Rust. 
Wounded : Co. A, Pvt. John H. Flinn. 

Co. B, Pvts. Edward Counsel (or Counsil), Jacob 
Luddic, Alfred Shaffer, Cornelius Shaffer 
Samuel J. Shrack, William Smith, and Meli 
Walker. 
Captured : Co. A, Capt. Eldred Huff, Pvts. John Billups, Monroe 
M. Childs, John Fairchild, Hugh Ferguson, 
John H. Flinn, Robert A. Hodges, William 
W. Howell, Doran T. Hunt, George Legrand, 
and David L. White. 
Co. B, Pvts. John W. Akers, Josiah Bowman, George 
W. Clapp, Patrick McHugh, Theodore 
Shrack, Robert Speers, James A. Walker^ 
Levi Washburn, and Ralph T. Washburn. 
Of the captured, Legrand died, May 27, 1865, at Hilton Head, 
S. C, after release from prison ; Akers died, April 25, 1865, at 
Andersonville ; and all the others were released by the close of 
the war. 

GRIERSON'S CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE MOBILE AND 

OHIO RAILROAD, 

a raid from Memphis, by Ripley, Tupelo, Egypt Station, Grenada, 
and Lexington, to Vicksburg : Dec. 21, 1864, to Jan. 5, 1865. 

Union force, about 3,500 cavalry, under Gen. Grierson, includ- 
ing 800 of Winslow's Brigade, under Col. Winslow, men who had 
not marched upon, or had returned from, the Price campaign. 
The Fourth Iowa, 300 men, commanded by Lieut.-Col. Peters. 

The enemy resisted the movement with inferior forces, at 
Egypt Station and Franklin, and were wholly defeated, with 
losses of about 100 killed and wounded, 500 prisoners, and great 
destruction of railways and army supplies. 

Grierson's total loss was 27 killed, 93 wounded, and 7 missing. 

The Fourth Iowa took no part in the engagements mentioned, 
and suffered no loss, except that of one man captured, namely. 



APPENDIX. 571 

Captured : Co, H, Pvt. Joseph L. Baker, at Okalona, Dec. 26. 
Baker was released by the close of the war. 

THE LAST CAMPAIGN OF THE WAR. 

Wilson's cavalry raid against the Confederate last line. From 
Eastport, Miss., by Tuscaloosa, Selma, Montgomery, and Colum- 
bus, to Macon and Augusta, with the capture of Jefferson Davis 
and other rebel leaders : March 20 to May 10, 1865. 

Union forces, 13,500 cavalry, under Bvt. Maj.-Gen. James H. 
Wilson, in three divisions, with four guns each, under Brig.-Gen, 
Edward M. McCook, Brig.-Gen. Eli Long, and Bvt. Maj.-Gen. 
Emory Upton, in six brigades, under Brig.-Gen. John T. Croxton, 
Col. Oscar H. LaGrange, Col. Abram O. Miller, Col. Robert H. G. 
Minty, Bvt. Brig.-Gen. Edward F. Winslow, and Bvt. Brig.-Gen. 
Andrew J. Alexander. 

In Alabama, the enemy were commanded by Lieut. - Gen. 
Richard Taylor, numbering about 15,000, infantry, artillery, and 
cavalry. The cavalry was commanded by Lieut.-Gen. Nathan B. 
Forrest, in the three divisions of Maj.-Gens. Abraham Buford, James 
R. Chalmers, and William H. Jackson, the brigades being under 
Brig.-Gens. Wirt Adams, Daniel Adams, Frank C. Armstrong, 
James H. Clanton, Edward Crossland, Philip D. Roddey, Peter 
B. Starke, Alexander W. Campbell, and Tyree H. Bell. In 
Georgia, Maj.-Gen. Howell Cobb was in chief command, his 
forces numbering, at Columbus, about 3,000, and at Macon, about 
3,500, and his lieutenants being Maj.-Gens. Abraham Buford and 
Gustavus W. Smith and Brig.-Gens. William W. Mackall, Hugh 
W. Mercer, Felix H. Robertson, and Robert C. Tyler. 

56 (page 435). MONTEVALLO. 

March 30, 1865. 

Go's F and L of the Fourth Iowa, under Major William W. 
Woods. 

Enemy, cavalry of Buford's Division, number and commander 
not known. 

Woods' loss : i wounded, Pvt. Francis M. Boswell, Co. F. 

Loss of enemy, if any, unknown. 



572 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

57 (page 436). MONTEVALLO. 

March 31, 1S65. 

The Fifth Iowa, of Alexander's Brigade of Upton's Division, 
assisted by Co. G of the Fourth Iowa, then escort to Gen. Upton. 

Enemy, Roddey's Brigade of Buford's Division. 

No loss to Co. G. 

The enemy lost in killed, wounded, and captured, but the 
numbers are not reported. 

58 (page 438). SIX-MILE CREEK. 

March 31, 1865. 

The First and Third Battalions of the Fourth Iowa, under 
Lieut. -Col. Peters. 

Enemy, cavalry, number unknown, commanded by Forrest. 
Loss of Fourth Iowa : 5 wounded. 
Wounded : Co. E, Trumpeter John Q. Riley. 

Co. M, Corp. Jacob S. Gantz, Pvts. Villeroy Abbey, 
Oliver F. Chester, and James Lathers. 
Loss of Forrest : 5 killed, the wounded and captured not re- 
ported. 

59 (page 441). EBENEZER CHURCH: 

April I, 1865. 

Union forces engaged, part of Long's Divison on the right and 
Alexander's Brigade of Upton's Division on the left, assisted later 
by the Third and Fourth Iowa, of Winslow's Brigade. 

Enemy, three brigades of cavalry and one regiment of infantry, 
commanded by Forrest. 

No loss in Fourth Iowa. Alexander's loss not reported. 

Enemy's loss : about 100 killed and wounded (Forrest among 
the wounded), 200 prisoners, and 2 guns. 

60 (page 444). SELMA. 

April 2, 1865. 

Union forces engaged, part of Long's Division on the right and 
the Second Battalion of the Fourth Iowa, under Major Woods, 
on the left, all dismounted, one squadron of the Fourth U. S. 



APPENDIX. 573 

Cavalry on the right, and the First and Third Battalions of the 
Fourth Iowa, under Lieut.-Col. Peters, on the left, in mounted 
charge, all commanded by General Wilson. 

Enemy, 6,000 or 7,000 dismounted cavalry, infantry, and artil- 
lery, in fortifications, commanded by Forrest. 
Wilson had 8 guns, Forrest 32. 

Wilson's loss : 44 killed, 277 wounded, and 7 missing. 
Forrest's loss : killed and wounded not reported, 2,700 prisoners, 
32 guns in position and 70 in arsenal and foundry, and great 
quantities of ammunition and stores of all kinds. 
Loss of Fourth Iowa : 2 killed and 7 wounded. 
Killed : Capt. Eugene R. Jones and Chief-Trumpeter Daniel 

J. Taber. 
Wounded : Co. A, Trumpeter Robert E.Ray. 
Co. B, Pvt. Oliver J. Williams. 
Co. D, Pvt. John W. Benson. 
Co. H, Color-Sergt. James H. Stocks. 
Co. I, Pvts. Robert Campbell and Abram Needles. 
Co. L, Teamster Hezekiah J. Phelps. 

61 (page 469). FIKE'S FERRY. 

April 8, 1865. 

Detachments from Third Iowa and Fourth Iowa, the latter 
under Lieut. John T. Reynolds, all under Capt. Samuel J. McKee 
of Third Iowa. 

Enemy, cavalry, number and commander unknown. 

Loss of Fourth Iowa : i wounded, Pvt. John T. Mendenhall of 
Co. L, who died of his wound at Selma, April 25, 1865. 

62 (page 487). COLUMBUS. 

April 16, 1865. 

Union forces engaged, Winslow's Brigade of Upton's Division, 
including the Fourth Iowa, under Lieut.-Col. Peters. In all about 
1,000 men of the brigade were employed in the engagement. 

Enemy, about 2,700, in fortifications, with 27 guns, under Maj.- 
Gen. Howell Cobb. 

Loss of the brigade : 24 killed and wounded. 

Loss of the Fourth Iowa : 2 killed, 9 wounded. 



574 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 

Killed : Co. L, Sergt. Joseph H. Jones. 

Co. I, Pvt. Nathan Beezley. 
Wounded : Co. A, Corp. Elza A. Reeves, Pvt. John S. Shirley. 
Co. D, Sergt. Horton M. Detrick, Corp. Joseph C. 
McCoy, Pvts. William Loomis, Elias F. 
Ogg, Jehoida Worth (see also pp. 551-2). 
Co. I, Pvt. James H. Van Clear (or Van Cleve.) 
Co. K, Pvt. David M. Anderson. 
Loss of the enemy : 1,500 killed, wounded, and captured, with 
6^ guns, a navy-yard, a ram for sea-service, and great quantities 
of military property and supplies. 

Some men of the regiment were wounded and captured in 
casual meetings with the enemy not mentioned above, whose 
names ought to appear in this list. 

Of the Non-Commissioned Staff, Hospital-Steward Joel R. Gar- 
retson was captured, June 6, 1 863, on a march near Mechanicsburg, 
Miss. He was exchanged at Annapolis, but did not return to the 
regiment, being placed on special duty in hospital at St. Louis. 
Of Co. C, Pvt. Andon Gates was missing, June 12, 1864, from 
picket-post near La Grange, Tenn. He appeared 
at Davenport, Iowa, at the end of the war, and 
was mustered out as a returned prisoner of war. 
Of Co. E, Pvt. Benjamin T. Griffith was captured, Feb. 18, 
1864, on duty near Meridian, Miss. He died 
Feb. 25, 1865, in prison at Florence, S. C. 
Pvt. Henry F. Parks was wounded, July 3, 1863, on 
duty near the Yazoo River, Miss. Also wounded 
in action at Mechanicsburg : see page 555. 
Of Co. F, Corp. Simon Smith was captured, June 18, 1863, on 
duty near Big Black River, Miss. Also wounded 
in action at Ripley : see page 563. 
Pvt. James M. McNair was wounded, June 28, 1863, 
on picket duty near Bear Creek, rear of Vicksburg. 
Of Co. G, Corp. Thompson Jones was wounded, May — , 1863, 
on a reconnaisance made by a part of his com- 
pany near Young's Point, La. He was perma- 
nently disabled by the wound, and was transferred 
to the Veteran Reserve Corps. 



APPENDIX. 



57S 



Of Co. G, Pvt. Wasson Gard was missed, April lo, 1865, near 
Selma, Ala. He was posted as safe-guard at a 
house Avhile the column passed, and was never 
heard of afterward. As he was a faithful, intelli- 
gent soldier, it is believed he was killed. 
Pvt. Jeremiah Odell was captured, Nov. 22, 1862, 
having ventured beyond the picket-line. He was 
exchanged and returned to duty. 

Of Co. I, Pvts. Robert Campbell and Samuel Myers were cap- 
tured, March 27, 1863, near Helena, Ark., under 
circumstances not now found reported. Both, 
were exchanged and returned to service, Camp- 
bell was also wounded in action : see page 573. 

Of Co. K, Sergt. Samuel O. Miller was captured, May 25, 1863, 
at Raymond, Miss., where he was left in charge of 
wounded. He was exchanged and returned to 
service. 

Of Co. L, Corp. Cory J. Brown was captured, March 8, 1863, 
and Pvt. Daniel Clancy, Nov. 21, 1862, both near 
Helena, Ark., and under circumstances not now 
found reported. Both were soon exchanged and 
returned to service. 

Of Co. M, Corp. Jacob Wright and Pvt. Jacob Uptagraft (or 
Updegraff) were captured, Sept. 30, 1862, from a 
picket-post near Helena, Ark. They were ex- 
changed and returned to service in Nov., 1862. 



SUMMARY OF CASUALTIES 

DUE IMMEDIATELY TO MEETING THE ENEMY. 



Killed in action (including the mortally wounded) 
Died in captivity or of its effects . 
Missing (believed killed by the enemy) 
Wounded in action (not mortally) 
Captured ...... 



Total 



52 

I 
160 

118 

345 



576 STORY OF A CAVALRY REGIMENT. 



GENERAL STATISTICS. 

The first enlistments of the Fourth Iowa Cavalry were made in July, i86l. 
The first company was sworn (into the State service) August g and lo, 1861. 
Organization of the regiment authorized, October 12, 1861. Mustered into- 
United States Army, at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, November 23, 1861. Re- 
mustered as Veteran Volunteers, at Vicksburg, Miss., December 25, 1863. 
Mustered out, at Atlanta, Ga., August 10, 1865. Discharged, at Davenport, 
Iowa, August 24, 1865. 

Numbers on first official rolls, 48 officers and 1,038 enlisted men ; but as 

52 men were rejected at muster in, the original enlistments were . 1,13s 

Number of all recruits . . . . . . . . . -774 

Total enlistments, officers and men ' . . . . . . .1,91a 

Killed in action (including the mortally wounded) . . . .52 

Missing in action (believed to have died of his wounds) . . . i 
Died prisoners of war . . . . . . . . .14 

Died of disease 171 

Died by accidents .......... 10 

Discharged for disability by wounds or disease .... 220 

Transferred to Invalid and Veteran Reserve Corps . . . .24 

Resigned • • • • 35 

Transferred or promoted to other commands . . . . -30 
Discharged on reorganization of cavalry in 1862 . . . .38 
Discharged on expiration of original term of enlistment in 1864 . 173 
Discharged under General Orders of the War Department reducing 

the army in 1865 ... 113 

Discharged by various Special Orders of the War Department . 12 

Deserted or taken as deserters from other commands . . .22 
Dropped from all other causes . . . . . . • I7 

Add the rejected, 52, and the recruits not assigned to companies 

(died or lost between recruiting stations and the field), 28 . .80 
Total losses 1,012- 

Disbanded after close of the war . ....... 900 

Highest number on the rolls at one time. May, 1864 .... 1,354 

Lowest number on the rolls, November, 1863 79^ 

" Veterans," original members re-enlisted ...... 542 

Number of horses used, estimated at ...... . S-O^o 

Marches : by horse or on foot, 6,500 miles ; by steamboats, 5,000 miles ; 

by rail, 2,500 miles — aggregate, about ..... 14,000 
Field of campaigning, — Missouri, Kansas, Indian Territory, Arkansas, 

Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. 
Engagements fought (as by Appendix, page 549-573, ««^^) ... 62 
Enemy captured in action ,......•• 2,890 

Artillery captured in action, pieces ........ 29 

Flags captured in action . . . . . . . • . . 12 

1 Of this number, 124 were officers, holding .Tt different times 173 commissions. Of the offi- 
cers, 54 were commissioneil on enlisting (but this includes 9 surgeons and i chaplain), and 70 
were raised from the ranks in the field. Of the 47 officers disbanded at the end of the war, 4a 
had served in the ranks. 



INDEX. 



A Co., raised in July, 1861, for 

Second Iowa Cavalry . . 5 
sworn in and encamped . , 6 
marches to Camp McClellan at 

Davenport .... 2 
assigned to Fourth Cavalry . 3 

arrives at regimental ren- 
dezvous ..... 4 
has the right of the line . . 4 
performs first field-service of 

the regiment . . . .32 
march from ,Batesville, Ark., 

to Salem, Mo. . . .44 

in action at Jones' Lane . . 50 
in action at Bear Creek . . 100 
in action at Marais des Cygnes . 334 
in action at White's Station . 363 
in action at Columbus . . 497 

Abbey, Pvt. Villeroy, wounded 

in action .... 572 

Abraham, Lieut. Lot, commands in 

pursuit of enemy . . .49 
Captain, his defense of the rear 

at Ripley .... 260 
commands expedition to Flor- 
ence ..... 428 
in action at Six-Mile Creek . 438 
pursuit of enemy at Selma . .458 
in action at Columbus . . 496 
recommended for promotion . 541 
Adams, Col. Wirt, met in action at 

Fourteen-Mile Creek . 81, 554 
his cavalry in action at Bear 

Creek .... 102, 556 
expedition against, from Natchez 176 
Brig. -Gen., commands brigade 
of enemy's cavalry. Meridian 
campaign .... 560 
under Forrest, Selma campaign, 

424, 571 
resists movements of Croxton . 516 



PAGE 

Adams, Brig. -Gen. Daniel, com- 
mands brigade, enemy's cav- 
alry, Selma campaign . .571 
his command met in action . 435 
in action at Ebenezer Church . 442 
Additional Assistant-Surgeon au- 
thorized by Iowa . . .12 
Akers, Pvt. John W., captured in 

action and died in prison . 570 
Alabama River, bridging and 

crossing at Selma . . . 468 
Alexander, Bvt. Brig. -Gen. Andrew 
J., commands Second Brigade, 
Upton's Division, Wilson's 
Corps .... 421, 571 
in action near Montevallo, Ala., 

436, 572 
in action at Ebenezer Church, 

442, 443, 572 
at the battle of Selma . .451 

accident in bridging the Alabama 466 
his bearing as a soldier . . 487 
makes first attack upon Colum- 
bus .... 487, 489 
promoted in the regular army . 541 
Allen, Sergt. Caleb J., commands 

company in action . . . 103 

capture and death of . . 139, 558 
Allen, Pvt. John W., captured in 

action and killed . . 51, 552 
Allen, Wm. T., Reg'l Com.-Sergt. 13 
Ammon, Pvt. Francis M., wounded 

in action .... 569 

Anderson, Pvt. John B., cap- 
tured in action . . -556 
Anderson, Pvt. David M., wounded 

in action . , . .574 

Andrews, Corp. Asa, wounded in 

action 554 

Andrews, Pvt. James, captured in 

action ..... 556 



37 



577 



578 



INDEX. 



PAGE 

Anecdotes of the Volunteers . . 391 
Anthony, Corp. Jonathan, cap- 
tured in action . . .556 
Arkansas Post, Hovey's expedition 

against . . . . • 5^ 
taken by McClernand and 
Sherman . . . .72 

Armorer of the regiment . .12 
Arms, kinds and character of, 

25, 63, 127, 183, 282, 369, 370 
Armstrong, Brig.-Gen. Frank C, 
commands brigade, enemy's 
cavalry, Selma campaign . 571 
in action, defense of Selma . 449 
Army organization, position of the 

Fourth Iowa in, 60, 80, 115, 159, 
227, 292, 360, 420 
Army of the Southwest, Fourth 

Iowa ordered to join . . 24 
proposed campaign in Arkansas, 30 
Fourth Iowa joins . . -31 
Army of the Tennessee, Fourth 

Iowa in . . . . .60 

Arnold, Bugler Thomas E., cap- 
tured in action . . . 552 
Arrowsmith, Elizabeth, care of 

graves at Mt. Pleasant . . 20 
Artillery, first assigned to the 

cavalry ..... 167 
used in action, at Bear Creek . 104 
at the Bogue Chito . . • 168 
at Jackson (third) . . . 193 
at Tallahatchie .... 293 
at Hurricane Creek . . . 293 
at Marais des Cygnes . -337 

at Selma ..... 413 
at Columbus ..." 490 
in Wilson's campaign against 

Selma 420 

Atkins' plantation, the cavalry 

bivouacks upon . . .211 

Austrian rifles supplied the regiment 25 



B 



B Co., raised for Second Cavalry . 2, 4 
organization and march to Camp 

McClellan .... 6 
assigned to Fourth Cavalry . 3 
on the left of regimental line . 4 
first service in the field . . 33 
in action at Jones' Lane . . 52 
in action at Marianna . . 55 
in action at White's Station . 363 
at La Grange, Madison, and 
Augusta, Ga. . . . 535 

Bachelder, Pvt. George H., cap- 
tured in action . . . 562 



PACK 

Baker, Pvt. Joseph L., captured on 

raid and returned . . . 571 
Baker, Lieut. Losson P., wounded 

in action . . . 301, 567 

Baker's Creek, fighting on, Meridi- 
an campaign . . . 190, 560 
charge made by Tenth Missouri . 190 
Band, regimental, organized at 

Camp Harlan ... 9 

regimental, mustered out . . 49 
a second one privately organ- 
ized in the regiment . . 408 
Bankston, destroyed by Fourth 

Iowa under Capt. Beckwith . 361 
Barnesville, Ga., destruction of 

railroad at ... . 508 
Barracks, built by the regiment at 

Mt. Pleasant .... 4 
Barton, Pvt. Joseph W., wounded 

in action .... 566 

Bartruff, Carroll H., Chief Bugler . 13 
Bates, Sergt. Norman F., decorated 

for capture of flag and bearer . 540 
Batesville, Ark., occupied by 

Curtis . . . . .40 
Battalion, organization of in cav- 
alry 10 

staff organization discontinued . 48 
Bayles, Corp. Richard, captured in 

action 557 

Bayou Ma9on, reconnoissance on . 79 
Bear Creek (rear of Vicksburg), 

battle of • . . . 100, 556 
losses in battle of . . . 106 
(near Canton), engagement at, 

120, 557 
Beauregard, Lieut. -Gen. P. G. T., 

his order to cease hostilities . 510 
surrender of all his forces . -517 
Bebb, Private Edward J., decorated 

for capture of flag . . . 54^ 
Beck, Capt. Moses M., his i8th In- 
diana Battery in the Selma 
campaign . . 420, 479-481 
Beckwith, Lieut. Warren, wounded 
in action . . . .56, 553 
Captain, famous order of . .178 
commands in action at Clinton . 190 
in action, Forrest's attack upon 

Memphis . . . 300, 567 
in command on special service 

at Memphis .... 300 
destroys property at Bankston . 361 
commands detachment, "Quinine 

Campaign " . . . . 3^5 
arrests a funeral procession . 396 

Beezley, Pvt. Nathan, killed ia 

action 574 



INDEX. 



579 



Bell, Brig. -Gen. Tyree H., com- 
mands brigade, Forrest's cav- 
alry, Selma campaign . 563, 571 
Bell, Col. WilliaiTi B., 8th Iowa 

Inf., in action at Memphis . 298 
Benson, Pvt. John W., wounded 

in action . . . -573 

Benteen, Lieut. -Col. Frederick VV., 

commands brigade . . . 317 
commands brigade in action. Big 

Blue Prairie . . . 326, 568 
commands brigade in action, 

Marais des Cygnes . . 332, 568 
commands brigade in action, 

Chariot Prairie . . . 339 
destroys iron-works, Selma 

campaign . . . -435 
in action at Six-Mile Creek . 437 
Benton Barracks, St. Louis, occu- 
pied by the regiment, 25, 221, 317, 

345, 353 
Bereman, First-Sergt. William A., 

wounded in action . . . 555 

Lieutenant, honorably discharged, 368 
Big Black River crossed, Vicks- 

burg campaign . . .91 

Big Black River, skirmish on, 189, 560 
Big Black River Bridge, battle of . 92 
destroyed by the regiment . . 122 
Big Blue Prairie, battle of . 326, 568 
Big Blue River, the battle of, 320, 568 
charge of Fourth Iowa . . 324 

Big Creek, regiment in action at, 

62, 553 
Biggs, Sergt. William T., mortally 

wounded in action . . 107, 556 
Big Swamp, Ala., difficult passage, 471 
"' Bill," Col. Winslow's horse, 

wounded in action . . . 325 

Billups, Pvt. John, captured in 

action ..... 570 
Bird, Dr. Wellington, Assistant 

Surgeon . . . . .13 
Bird, Pvt. Thomas M., captured 

in action .... 556 

Black, Corp. Samuel O., wounded 

in action .... 553 

Black Fish Lake, Ark., dangerous 

passage . . . . .311 
Black River, Ark., novel bridge 

built upon by the cavalry . 313 
Blasier, Lieut. Edward, commands 

detachment at Augusta, Ga. . 476 
Blunt, Gen. James G., commands 

Kansas troops. Price cam- 
paign . . . 323, 567 
fighting with Shelby, New- 

tonia. Mo 342 



PAGS 

Bogue Chito, cavalry engagement, 

168, 559 

Bogue, Pvt. Silas, wounded in 

action ..... 556 

Boham, Pvt. Edwin L., wounded 

in action . . . 301, 567 

Bonneville, Col. Benj. L. E., orders 

the regiment under arrest . 354 

Boswell, Pvt. Francis M., wounded 

in action . . . -572 

Bouton, Col. Edward, commands 
Colored troops, Sturgis' cam- 
paign . . . 232, 250, 258 
in Smith's campaign against For- 
rest . . . 2S1, 286, 564 

Bowman, Lieut. Thomas, wounded 

in action .... 568 

Bowman, Pvt. Josiah, captured in 

action ..... 570 

Brandon, Miss., skirmishing near . 200 

" Bread Riot" . . . .353 

Bremen, Pvt. Solomon, captured 

in action . . . -556 

Brice's Cross-Roads, description of 

the field .... 236 

battle of . . . . . 239 
operations of the Fourth Iowa, 

242, 248, 252, 255 
losses in battle of . . . 268 

Bridge at Columbus, who captured 

it 498 

Bridge on Black River, Ark., built 

by the brigade . , .313 

Bridge over the Cahawba built by 

the brigade .... 432 

Brown, Pvt. Cory J., captured and 

exchanged .... 575 

Brown, Brig. -Gen. Egbert B., com- 
mands brigade, Missouri cav- 
alry . . . . .317 
in action supported by Winslow . 319 

Brown, James, First-Lieut, of G. . 7 

Brown, Joseph, Governor of Geor- 
gia, refuses troops for Confed- ■ 
erate armies . . . .411 
maintains troops — " Georgia 
Line" 486 

Browning, Corp. Benjamin F., 
wounded and captured in ac- 
tion . . . .41. 550 

Brown's Ford, engagement at .550 

Brownsville, Miss., regiment en- 
gaged at .... 91 
occupied by Winslow's cavalry . 160 
engagement at . . . 167, 559 

Buck, John, executed by the rebels, 139 

Buckland, Gen. Ralph P., in action 

at Memphis . . . 298, 567 



58o 



INDEX. 



Buford, Maj.-Gen. Abraham, com- 
mands division, enemy's cav- 
alry, Selma campaign . 423, 571 
division in action at Montevallo, 

435. 572 
resists advance upon Columbus, 

475. 487 
assists in defense of Columbus . 487 
Busby, Corp. Elijah, captured in 

action ..... 556 
Bussey, Col. Cyrus, commands cav- 
alry on expedition against 
Arkansas Post . . .56 

in command of the cavalry 

brigade . . . .116, 557 
his engagement at Canton, Miss, iig 
Butcher, Corp. Charles, wounded 

and captured in action . 41, 550 
Buttercase, Pvt. James, killed in 

action ..... 556 
" Butternuts," engagement with, at 

Talbot's Ferry . . '37 
Byram's Ford, crossing in battle of 

Big Blue River . . . 320 



C Co., organized and enters Camp 

Harlan ..... 6 
attacked on Little Red River . 41 
on expedition to Natchez . .174 
on special service. Meridian 

campaign . . , .189 
engagement at Clinton, Meridian 

campaign .... 198 
conspicuous in fighting Forrest at 

Memphis . . . 299, 567 
on special service with provost- 
marshal at Memphis . . 300 
on the " Quinine Campaign" . 365 
in action at Selma . . 451, 456 
in pursuit of enemy at Selma . 48 5 
in action at Columbus . . 498 
Cabell, Brig. -Gen. William L., 
commands brigade. Price's 
army ..... 307 
captured in battle, Marais des 

Cygnes 336 

Cache River, battle of . . -45 
Cahawba River, the cavalry crosses 

on a railway bridge . . 432 

engagement of Third and Fourth 
Iowa ..... 469 
Calhoun Station, Fourth Iowa de- 
stroys railway . . .120 
Calico Rock occupied by Co. F . 42 
Camp Harlan constructed and oc- 
cupied by the regiment . . 4 



PAGE 

Camp McClellan, first rendezvous 

of men of Fourth Iowa . . 2 
regiment discharged at . . 547 
Camp Upton, Louisville, Ky., oc- 
cupied by Winslow's Brigade . 357 
Campbell, Brig.-Gen. Alexander 
W., commands brigade, For- 
rest's cavalry, Selma campaign, 571 
Campbell, Pvt. Robert, captured 

and returned . . . -575 
captured in action . . .557 
wounded in action . . -573 
Canton, Miss., regiment engaged 

near . . . .119, 557 
second attack upon . . 120, 557 
taken by the cavalry and property 

destroyed .... 122 
demonstration upon, in favor of 

Grant ..... 158 
McPherson's demonstration upon, 166 
reconnoissance of . Winslow's 

Brigade ..... 200 
occupied by the brigade . .214 
Cantwell, Pvt. Alonzo, wounded in 

action 555 

Cape Girardeau, embarkation at. 

Price campaign . . .316 
Captures wholly or partly by the 

regiment, 42, 44, 52, 56, 83, 93, 109, 

138, 165, 195, 206, 218, 327, 330, 

338, 360, 361, 362, 367, 435, 437, 

439. 443. 459. 460, 47°, 47^, 501, 

512, 519 

Carbines issued to the regiment . 63 

later issues . . . 127, 183 

Spencer, first issued . . . 282 

Cardell, Sergt. Hiram H., wounded 

in action .... 569 

Carson, Pvt. James M., captured 

and died in prison . . 239, 558 
Carson, Pvt. John G., mortally 

wounded in action . . 43, 551 
Carter, Corp. Cornelius, wounded 

and captured in action . -556 
Case, Pvt. Harvey W., captured . 558 
Caskey, Sergt. George W., wound- 
ed in action . . . .556 
killed in action . . . 173, 559 
Casualties, with Engagements, 549-575 
general, with statistics . .576 
Cavalry, organization of, in 1861 . 10 
reorganization of . . .11 
composition of regiment of .11 
regiments of, from Iowa . . 2 
Fourth Iowa only regiment of, 
in march against Vicksburg . 80 
Cavalry Corps,"District West Ten- 
nessee, the regiment in . . 292 



INDEX. 



581 



Cavalry Corps, of the Military Di- 
vision of the Mississippi, the 
regiment in . . , . 420 

Cavalry Forces of the 15th 
Army Corps, the regiment 

in 80, 158 

of the 1 7th Army Corps, the regi- 
ment in . . . . . 221 

Cavanee, Corp. David, captured in 

action _ . . . . .557 

Cayuga, Miss., the regiment joins 

Grant, Vicksburg campaign . 80 

Chalmers, Gen. James R., attempt 

to capture, at Hernando . 229 

commands enemy in action, Talla- 
hatchie River . . 293, 566 
commands enemy in action. Hur- 
ricane Creek . . . 293, 566 
commands division, enemy's cav- 
alry, Selma campaign . 423, 571 
attacks Wilson's rear at Selma . 453 

Chambers, Capt. Alexander, musters 

in the regiment . . .13 

Champion's Hill, Miss., battle of . 86 
losses in battle of . . .88 

Chandler, Pvt. Luther P., captured 

in action . . . 191, 560 

Chaney, Sergt. Albert W., com- 
mands Co. Fi in action . . 38 

Chapel, Pvt. Andrew J., killed in 

action .... 108, 556 

Chapman, Pvt. Henry J., mortally 

wounded in action . . . 563 

Chapman, Pvt. Wm. H., mortally 

wounded in action . . . 563 

Chariot Prairie, battle of (see Mar- 

miton Prairie) . . 339, 569 

Chattahoochee, the gunboat, de- 
stroyed at Columbus . . 502 

Cherry Creek, Miss., the regiment 

in action at . . . 285, 565 

Chester, Pvt. Oliver F., wounded 

in action .... 572 

Childs, Pvt. Monroe M., captured 

in action .... 570 

Clancy, Pvt. Daniel, captured and 

exchanged . . . -575 

Clanton, Brig. -Gen. James H., 
commands brigade, enemy's 
cavalry, Selma campaign . 571 

in action with La Grange . 471, 478 

Clapp, Pvt. George W., captured 

in action . . . .570 

Clarendon, Ark., occupied in Price 

campaign . . . .311 

Clark, Alonzo, 2d Lieut, of B . 6 
Captain, in action at Ebenezer 
Church ..... 444 



Clark, Lieut. S. Kirkwood, wound- 
ed in action and dies 
Clark, Gen. John B. , jr., commands 

brigade under Price 
Clayton, Col. Powell, commands 

cavalry at Helena . 
Clear Creek, rear Vicksburg, regi- 
ment encamped on 
Cline, Corp. Joseph, wounded and 

captured in action . 
Clinton, Miss., skirmish at 

cavalry engaged, demonstration 

upon Canton . 
engagement of Co. C. at . 198 
Clothing, allowance to the volun 

teers .... 
Cobb, Gen. Howell, in chief com 

mand in Georgia 
commands in defense of Col 

umbus .... 487 
commands in defense of Macon 
protests against capture of Macon, 
Coe, Corp. Francis C, killed in 

action .... 
Coffee, value of, to the soldiers 
Coffeeville, Miss., railroad de 

stroyed at . . . 
Coiner, Erasmus, ist Lieut, of D 
Coldwater River, engagement at 

Grenada raid . 
Cole, Pvt. Thomas J., killed in 

action .... 
Coleman, Col. W. O., his regiment 

under Price . 
Colored cavalry, engagement with 

Wirt Adams . 
Colt's navy revolvers received 
Columbus, Ga., preparations for 

march against 
position and value of 
description of fortifications 
battle and fall of . . 500 
losses at . 
Companies, position of, in battalion 

and regimental line 
Conciliatory policy of Government 

in 1863 .... 
" Confederate Hotel " at Jackson 

destroyed by fire 
Conscription in the Confederacy 
Cooking utensils . 
Corbin, Pvt. John, captured in 

action .... 
Corbin, Sergt. John W., wounded 

in action 
sent to Iowa on recruiting service, 
Cosby, Brig. -Gen. George B., com- 
mands brigade enemy's cavalry. 



72 
307 

50 

173 

551 
118 

167 

561 

385 

571 

573 
506 

512 

563 
379 

69 
7 

136 

568 

308 

361 
63 

471 

482 
484 

573 
501 

13 

126 

85 
410 

383 

552 

555 
157 

162 



582 



INDEX. 



Cosgriff, Pvt. Richard H., decorated 

for capture of flag and bearer . 540 
Cottonplant, Ark., battle of . .45 
Counsel, Pvt. Edward, wounded in 

action ..... 570 
Crane, Trumpeter Smith R., wound- 
ed in action .... 569 
Graver, Sergt. Charles F. , commands 

guard of prisoners of state . 531 
Crawford,DeWittC.,Capt. ofCo.H 7 
CroU, Pvt. Henry John, wounded 

in action .... 569 

Cross-Hollows, battle of . .31 
Crossland, Brig. -Gen. Edward, 
commands brigade, enemy's 
cavalry, Selma campaign . 571 

in action, Selma campaign . 436, 442 
Croxton, Brig. -Gen. John T., com- 
mands brigade, Wilson's Cav- 
alry Corps . . . 420, 571 
detached against Tuscaloosa . 434 
unable to rejoin the Corps . . 470 
engagement with Gen, Wirt 

Adams . . . . .516 

engagement with Gen. Hill, the 

last action in the last campaign, 516 
appears at Macon after great 
march ..... 515 
Cummings, Dr. Stephen, appointed 

Assistant-Surgeon . . .115 
Cunning, Pvt. Michael, wounded 

in action . . . .568 

Currier, Pvt. Russell G., captured 

in action .... 557 

Curtis, Maj.-Gen. Samuel R., suc- 
ceeds to command in Missouri, 30 
Fourth Iowa Cav. sent to, 24, 31, 549 
victory at Pea Ridge . . -31 
reviews the regiment . . .36 
campaign against Little Rock . 35 
abandons the campaign . . 42 

retreat and march to Helena . 42 
commands Kansas troops, Price 

campaign . . . 317, 567 

repulsed by Price at Little Blue . 319 

battle with Price at Westport . 323 

takes command in Price campaign 327 

Curtiss, Sergt. HiraW., commands 

detachment in action . 43, 551 
captured in action . . .556 

Lieutenant, killed in action, 338, 569 
Cut-off, The, reached in campaign 

against Arkansas Post . . 57 

D 

D Co., organized as a militia com- 
pany for border service . . 6 
joins the regiment with its officers, 6 



D Co., on detached service . . 35 
detail attacked on picket-post . 49 
in action at Marianna . . 55 

on special service, Meridian cam- 
paign ..... 189 
stubborn defense of rear near 

Ripley ..... 260 
on the " Quinine Campaign " . 365 
pursuit of enemy at Selma . . 458 
in action at Columbus . . 497 

posted at Washington, Ga. . 535 

Dana, Capt. Newell B., in action 

at Selma . . . 449, 454 

in action at Columbus . 496, 498 
Dana, Maj.-Gen. Napoleon J. T., 

applies for Winslow's Brigade, 357 
Dashman, Pvt. George L., missing, 558 
Davenport, Iowa, rendezvous and 

discharge of the regiment, 2, 548 
Davidson, Corp. James H., capture 

and imprisonment of, 141, 149, 558 
Davis, President, quarrels with Gen. 

Johnston . . . .187 

on Confederate desertions . . 410 
his flight . . 521, 522, 526-529 
the regiment searches for him . 523 
capture of . . . . 529, 530 
Davis, Pvt. Abner F., wounded in 

action ..... 565 
Davis, Pvt. Charles W., wounded 

in action .... 569 

Davis, Pvt. William W., captured 

in action .... 552 

Dean, Pvt. William, captured in 

action . . . . • 55& 

Dee, Edward W., 2d Lieut, of E . 7 
Captain, commands battalion at 

Brice's Cross-Roads . . 240 

in command of the regiment . 292 
his passage of the Big Blue in 

action 322 

in command of the regiment . 342 
Major, in action at Six-Mile 

Creek 438 

leads mounted charge at Colum- 
bus 499 

Delhi, Iowa, Co. B organized at . 6 
Desertions among Confederates . 410 
Detrick, Sergt. Horton M., wound- 
ed in action .... 574 
Dibrell, Maj.-Gen. George G., com- 
mands escort to Jeff. Davis . 526 
Dillon, Lieut. Loyd H., achieve- 
ment in action, Clinton, Miss., 198 
wounded in action . . 243, 563 
commands Co. C on expedition . 365 
in action at Columbus . . 499 

recommended for promotion . 541 



INDEX. 



583 



Discipline among the volunteers . 14 
Dobbin, Gen. Archibald S., com- 
mands brigade under Price . 307 
Double Bridges, Ga., engagement at, 505 
Drake, Pvt. Henry, captured in 

action ..... 552 
Drummond, James T., Capt. of K, 8 
commands detachment on White 

River . . . .36, 55° 
with Cos. E, F, G, K, first en- 
gagements of the regiment, 37, 550 
leaves the regiment, expiration of 

term 3^8 

Drummond, Thomas, Lieut. -Col. of 

the regiment . . . .13 
character and influence . . 14 
resigns and returns to regular 

army . . . . -15 

killed in action . . . -15 
Duck Hill, Miss., fighting at, 

Grenada Raid . . . 133 

Duffield, Lieut.-Col. George, com- 
mands the brigade . . .310 
Durant, Miss., railroad destroyed, 

Grenada Raid . . .130 

Dustan, Gen. Charles W., in action 

at Memphis . . . 298, 567 
Dwire, Pvt. John, wounded in 

action . ' . . . -551 



E Co. , organized and enters Camp 

Harlan ..... 7 
first service in the field . . 33 
in expedition on White River . 36 
Eastport, Miss., camp of Wilson's 

Cavalry Corps . . . 408 

Ebenezer Church, battle of . 441, 572 
numbers and losses of the rebels . 443 
Eggleston, Col. Beroth B., makes 

first attack at Columbus , . 489 
Egypt, Miss., campaign of . . 359 

battle of 361 

Eighth Iowa Infantry in Forrest's 

attack upon Memphis . . 298 

Election of officers in the compa- 
nies . . . . .21 
Election, Presidential, 1864, vote 

of the regiment . . . 344 
Eleventh Illinois Cavalry, brigaded 

with Fourth Iowa . . 115, 159 
in action at Jackson . . . 194 
Elgin's Mill, novel bridge built by 

the cavalry . . . .313 

Engagements and casualties, list of, 549 

Equipment, delay in providing, 22, 24 

character of . . . .25 



Ewing, Gen. Thomas, jr., brilliant 

defense of Pilot Knob . .315 



F Co., organized and enters Camp 

Harlan ..... 7 
marches to relieve Salem, Mo. . 34 
expedition on White River . . 36 
in action at Talbot's Ferry . . 37 
detached for special service . 42 

captures steamboat on White 

River . . . . -42 
occupies Calico Rock, Ark. . 42 

in action at Mt. Olive, Ark. . 43 
in action at Gist's Plantation, 43 
on special duty in Helena . . 44 
in action at Bear Creek . . 100 
acts as guard to pontoon train . 189 
extraordinary marches. Meridian 

campaign . . . .196 

takes gun, Marais des Cygnes . 336 
attack enemy's flank, Montevallo, 435 
in action at Selma . 449, 450, 454 
in action at Columbus . . 498 

takes Alexander H. Stephens, 

Confederate Vice-President . 530 
carries news of capture of Jeff. 
Davis _ . . . . _ . 535 
Fagan, Maj.-Gen. James B., with 

Price in Arkansas . . . 304 
commands division. Price's in- 
vasion of Missouri . . 307, 567 
in action at the Big Blue . 322, 568 
in action at the Marais des 

Cygnes . . . . 33i, 5^9 
defeated at Marais des Cygnes, 336 
Fairchild, Pvt. John, captured in 

action . . . . .570 

Fanning, Pvt. Nicholas, decorated 

for capturing flag and two officers, 540 
Farnan, Maj. James, engagement 

with Ferguson's cavalry . . 20G 

Farrar, Col. Bernard G., commands 

mounted men at Natchez . 176 
Ferguson, Gen. Samuel W., com- 
mands rebel cavalry in action . 206 
in Meridian campaign . 209, 560 

in action at Meridian . . 206, 561 

commands escort to Jeff. Davis . 526 
Ferguson, Pvt. Hugh, captured in 

action , . . . .570 

Field-and-Staff of the regiment, 

organization of . . .13 

Fifteenth Army Corps, the regiment 

assigned to . . . .80 

Fifth Illinois Cavalry, brigaded 

with Fourth Iowa . . .115 



584 



INDEX. 



Fifth Illinois Cavalry, in action at 

Jackson ..... 194 
in action near Meridian . . 205 

Fifth Iowa Cavalry, in action at 

Columbus . . . 490, 494 

Fifth Kansas Cavalry, the regiment 

encamped with . . .50, 404 
Fike's Ferry, engagement at . 469, 573 
Fire, uses and value of, in the field, 379 
First Iowa Infantry, men of the 

Fourth Cavalry served in . 9 

Fitch, Lieut. Asa B., wounded in 

action . . . . 56. 553 
Captain, sent to Sherman . .214 
takes Stephen R. Mallory and 

Benjamin H.Hill, rebel leaders, 530 
recommended for promotion , 541 
Fleming, Pvt. Henry, wounded in 

action 553 

Fletcher, Pvt. James G., captured 

in action .... 556 

Flinn, Pvt. John H., wounded and 

captured in action . . -570 
Flowers' plantation, camp of the 

Fourth Iowa .... 122 
Forrest, Brig. -Gen. Nathan B., cuts 

Grant's communications . -71 
Maj.-Gen., commands enemy's 

cavalry, Meridian campaign . 1S7 
position between Smith and Wins- 
low, Meridian campaign . .212 
operations in Mississippi, Tennes- 
see, and Kentucky . . . 226 
expeditions against . . 227, 230 
his forces at Brice's Cross- 

Roads .... 239, 562 
in action at Brice's Cross- 

Roads .... 239, 562 
fighting at Ripley . . 259, 563 
third expedition against . 281, 564 
defeated at Tupelo . . .288 

wounded in action . . . 566 
fourth expedition against . 291, 566 
his attack upon Memphis . . 295 
Lieut. -Gen., commands the ene- 
my's cavalry, Selma cam- 
paign .... 423, 571 
flank attack, Selma campaign, 

438, 572 
in action at Ebenezer Church, 441, 572 
kills Capt. Taylor . . . 441 

wounded in the action , .572 
in action at Selma . 448, 458, 573 
escapes from Selma . . . 458 
characteristic atrocity . . 459 

refuses to exchange prisoners . 466 
Forsyth, Ga., scene of last hostile 

act of the regiment, . . 509 



Forsyth, Mo., the regiment joins 

Army of the Southwest . . 36 

Fort Leavenworth, the regiment or- 
dered to . . . . .23 

Fort Scott, Kan., occupied by the 

cavalry, Price campaign . . 341 

Foster, Pvt. Charles, wounded in 

action . . . . .556 

Fourteen-Mile Creek, regiment in 

action at . . . 81, 554 

Fourth Illinois Cav., the regiment 
brigaded with .... 159 

Fourth Missouri Cav., Confederate, 

flag taken by Fourth Iowa . 338 

Frame, Corp. John M., killed in 

action . . . . .556 

Frame, Pvt. Watson, killed in 

action ..... 552 

Freeman, Col. Thomas R., com- 
mands brigade under Price . 307 

French, Maj.-Gen. Samuel G., 
commands enemy. Meridian 
campaign . . . 187, 560 

Furlough of the regiment as Veter- 
ans ..... 217 

G 

G Co., organized and enters Camp 

Harlan ..... 7 
on expedition to White River, 

Ark 35, 36 

destroys nitre works near Little 

North Fork, White River . 37 
in action at Jones' Lane . . 50 
on courier service in Louisiana, 

Vicksburg campaign . . 80 

rejoined from detached service . 96 
stubborn defense of rear at Rip- 
ley ...... 260 

on special service, Selma cam- 
paign, escort to Upton . . 421 
rejoins the regiment at Atlanta . 539 
" Galvanized Yankees " captured at 

Egypt Station . . .361 

Gamble, Sergt. Joseph, killed in 

action ..... 570 

Gantz, Corp. Jacob S., wounded in 

action ..... 572 

Card, Pvt. Wasson, missing, prob- 
ably killed . . . .575 

Gardner, Joshua, Lieutenant of K, 8 
mortally wounded in action, 104, 556 
Garretson, Hosp. Steward, Joel R., 

captured . . . 99. 574 
Gates, Pvt. Andon, missing from 

picket-post and returned . . 574 
Gerard, Pvt. Arsene, wounded in 

action 5^3 



J 



INDEX. 



585 



Gholson, Gen. Samuel J., rebel, 

killed in action . . . 361 
Giddings, Lieut.-Col. DeWitt €., 

commands enemy in action, 50, 552 
captured in action . . 52, 552 

Gilmer, Lieut. Robert P., honorably 

discharged .... 368 
Gist's Plantation, engagement of 

Co. F 43, 551 

Glasgow, Pvt. Joseph, captured in 

action . . . . .556 
Gorman, Brig. -Gen. W, A., the 

regiment in his command . 63 
Grant, Maj.-Gen. Ulysses S., orders 

the cavalry against Grenada . 59 
in command, armies on the Mis- 
sissippi . . . . .67 
takes charge of all operations 

against Vicksburg . . .70 
his troubles with McClernand, 

67, 71, 72 
his operations by canals . . 73 
considers an assault upon the 

position at Haines* BluiT . 77 

final movement through Louisi- 
ana to Grand Gulf . . .78 
orders Fourth Iowa Cav. into the 

campaign . . . -79 
successful landing, and movement 

upon Jackson . . ,80 

capture of Jackson and manoeu- 
vring for decisive battle . . 86 
victories at Champion's Hill and 

Big Black . . .87, 92 
completes investment of Vicks- 
burg . . . . .94 
failing in assault, begins a siege, 96 
determines upon final assault . 109 
receives surrender of Vicksburg . 109 
orders campaign against John- 
ston . . . . .116 
approves of conduct of Grenada 

raid 137 

Lieut. -Gen., describes condition 

of the rebel armies . . . 410 
plans of campaign for 1865 . 414 

instructions to Wilson for Selma 

campaign . . . .415 

congratulatory order on close of 
the war ..... 544 
Gravelly Springs, Ala., cantonment 

of the cavalry . . .425 

Gray, Pvt. James A., wounded in 

action ..... 552 
Grenada, Miss., the regiment in 

demonstration upon . 58, 69 

raid of Winslow's cavalry through, 

124, 558 



Grenada, occupied, and property 

destroyed, . . . .133 
again occupied and property 
destroyed by Third Iowa . 360 

Gresham, Brig.-Gen. Walter Q., 
the regiment in his provisional 
brigade . . . . .174 

Grierson, Brig.-Gen. Benjamin H., 
commands the Cav. Div. of the 
i6th Army Corps, 223, 227, 232, 562 
in action at Brice's Cross- Roads, 

238, 240, 241, 244, 245, 273 
in retreat from Brice's Cross- 

Roads . . 249, 255, 260, 263 
commands division. Smith's first 

campaign against Forrest, 282, 564 
commands Cav. Corps, Dist. of 

West Tennessee . . 292, 359 
marches on raid to Vicksburg, 360, 570 
in action at Egypt Station . . 361 
Griffith, Pvt. Benjamin T., cap- 
tured 218, 574 

died in captivity . . -574 

Groesbeck, Lieut. Stephen ■V^^, 

wounded in action . . 56, 553 
Guerrillas, active near Memphis . 358 
Gunboats run the batteries at Vicks- 
burg 78 

Guntown, Miss., battle of (see 

Brice's Cross-Roads) . 236, 562 
Guylee, John, ist Lieut, of A .6 
commands first movement in the 
field 32 



H 



H Co., organized in Camp Harlan, 7 
in action at Jones' Lane . . 50 
in action at Marian na . .55 

expedition to Natchez . .174 

wins the flag. Veteran re-enlist- 
ment . . . . .180 
sent to Gen. Sherman . .214 

expedition against Wetumpka . 475 
takes Stephen R. Mallory and 

Benjamin H. Hill, rebel leaders 530 
at La Grange, Madison, and Au- 
gusta, Ga 535 

Haines' Bluff, surrender of, to 

Fourth Iowa . . . 93, 555 
Haines, Pvt. Job A., captured in 

action ..... 564 
Hall's carbines received . . .63 
Halleck, Maj.-Gen. Henry W., 
orders Fourth Iowa into the 
field . . . .31, 549 
Hanks, Sergt. Thomas W., mortally 

wounded in action . . .552 



586 



INDEX. 



PAGE 

Hard Times Landing, crossing the 

Mississippi at . . . '79 
Harlan, James, U. S. Senator, 
obtains authority to raise the 
regiment .... 3 

name given to first camp . . 4 
father of the regiment . ■ i? 

Harris, Maj., a rebel officer killed 

at Bear Creek .... 106 
Harris, Wm. E., Captain of L . 8 
Harrisburg, battle of, see Tupelo, 

287, 565 
Harrisburg road, engagement on, 

287, 565 

Harrison, Pvt. Richard, killed in 

action ..... 551 

Hart, Jacob, ist Lieut, of K . . 8 
commands Co. K on expedition . 36 

Hartman, Pvt. John C, mortally 

wounded in action . . . 563 

Haskell, Edwin A., 2d Lieut of H . 7 

Hatch, Brig. -Gen., Edward, com- 
mands division. Cavalry Corps, 
District of West Tennessee, 

292, 566 

Hatchie Swamp, difficult passage of, 

Sturgis' retreat . . 253 

Hays, Pvt. John H., decorated for 

capture of flag and bearer . 540 

Heacock, Wm. A., 2d Lieut, of F. 7 
commands F on expedition, 36, 550 
killed in action . . . 38, 550 

Hebron's plantation, regiment en- 
camped on . . . .173 

Helena, occupied by Gen. Curtis . 46 
the regiment encamped near . 46 
encamped in the town . . 59 

the regiment leaves for Vicksburg, 7g 

Henderson, Corp. Wm. C, wound- 
ed in action .... 555 

Hennessy, Pvt. Michael, wounded 

in action ..... 569 

Henshaw, Bugler James J., wound- 
ed and captured in action . 556 

Hernando, Miss., occupied in search 

for Gen. Chalmers . . . 229 

Hilgrin, Pvt. Charles, wounded in 

action ..... 563 

Hill, Gen. (or Col.), Benjamin J., 
in battle with Croxton, the last 
engagement of the last cam- 
paign of the war . . .516 

Hill's plantation, scene of action of 

Bear Creek .... loi 

Hinkson, Pvt. John W., captured 

in action . . . 49, 552 

Hoakinson, Pvt. John, wounded in 

action ..... 563 



Hodge, Ambrose, promoted Adju- 
tant . . . , .113 
gallantry in action , . , 324 

Hodges, Pvt. Robert A., captured 

in action ..... 570 

Hoge, Col. George B., his brigade in 

action, Brice's Cross-Roads, 247, 25a 

Hole, Pvt. Wm., remarkably 

wounded in action . . 107, 556 

Holly Springs, Miss., occupied, 
fourth Forrest campaign . . 292 

Holt, Pvt. Geo. W., wounded and 

captured in action . . . 562 

Hooper, Simon, 2d Lieut, of G . 7 

Hopkirk, Pvt. Robert, wounded in 

action and died of his wounds, 564 

Horse Marines, regiment serves 

with, at Natchez . . .175. 

Horses, special provision for pur- 
chase ..... 3 
supply of, and distribution among 
companies , . . .22 

Hovey, Brig. -Gen. Alvin P., cam- 
paign against Arkansas Post . 56 
demonstration upon Grenada, 58, 59 
gallantry in action at Champion's 
Hill 8» 

Hovey, Col. Charles E., commands 

in action at River Cache . . 45 

Howell, Pvt. Wm. W., captured in 

action ..... 57(> 

Huff, Capt. Eldred, of Co. A., 

commands detail . . . 267 
disaster at White's Station . 363, 570 
captured in action . . . 570 

Huntington, Pvt. Edwin, wounded 
and captured in action and died 
in prison .^ . . 563, 564. 

Hunt, Pvt. Doran T,, captured in 

action ..... 556 
captured again in action . . 570 

Hunt, Pvt. Wilson S., killed in 

action ..... 556 

Hurlbut, Maj. -Gen., Stephen A., 
commands corps under Grant . 73 
commands corps. Meridian 
campaign . . . 185, 560 

Hurricane Creek, Miss., engage- 
ment at . . . . . 293 

Hyams, Lieut. -Col. Samuel M., 
commands the enemy in action 
at Ripley, Miss. . . . 564 



I Co., formed at Winterset . . 8 
in action at Bear Creek . . lOO 
on expedition to Natchez . .174 



INDEX. 



587 



I Co., in action at Selma 449, 450, 454 
in action at Columbus . . 498 

Independence, battle of . 319, 567 

Indian Territory, traversed by the 

cavalry. Price campaign . . 342 

Iowa Brigade, The, supports the 

cavalry at Jackson . . . 196 

Ireland, Pvt. John, killed in action, 

168. 559 
Iron-making plants in Alabama, 

destruction of . . 431, 436 

Irwin, Corp, Isaac M., captured in 

action ..... 552 



J 



Jackman, Col. Sidney D., com- 
mands brigade under Price . 308 
Jacks, Pvt. John M. D., killed in 

action ..... 568 
Jackson, the ram, captured and de- 
stroyed by the cavalry . 501, 502 
Jackson, Miss., first capture of, 

Vicksburg campaign . 83, 554 
destruction of captured property, 85 
siege of, by Sherman . . 119, 557 
second capture of, Sherman's 

campaign against Johnston . 121 
assaulted by Winslow's cavalry, 

193. 561 
third capture of, Meridian cam- 
paign 195 

Jackson, Pvt. Cornelius W., killed 

in action .... 552 

Jackson, Sergt. Wm. E., wounded 

in action .... 563 

Jackson, Brig.-Gen. Wm. H., com- 
mands enemy's cavalry, cam- 
paign against Johnston . - 117 
covers retreat of Johnston . ,118 
his cavalry in action at Canton, 

121, 557 
commands division of rebel cav- 
alry, Selma campaign . 423, 571 
in action with Croxton, Selma 
campaign . . 440, 444, 515 
Jackson, Pvt. Theodore S., wound- 
ed in action .... 566 
Jacksonport, Ark., occupied on 

march to Helena . . -45 
Jameson, Pvt. Harlan, captured in 

action . . . . .557 
Jewett, Joseph E., Major of the 

regiment . . . .13 

Jewett, Pvt. Charles M., wounded 

in action .... 566 

Johnson, Pvt. William, captured in 

action and wounded, 107, 556, 557 



PAGE 

Johnston, Lieut-Gen. Joseph E., 
commands the enemy, Vicks- 
burg campaign . . .82 
cut off from Pemberton by Grant, 84 
efforts to relieve Vicksburg . 100 
resists Sherman's movement upon 

Jackson . . . . • n? 

evacuates Jackson in the night ". 121 
surrenders all his forces . .517 

Jones, Maj. Benj. S., commands 3d 
Iowa Cav., Price campaign, 

320, 567 
in action at Marais des Cygnes, 335 
Jones, Capt. Eugene R., killed in 

action, Selma . . • 455. 573 
Jones' Lane, engagement at .. 51, 552 
Jones, Sergt. Joseph H., killed in 

action, Columbus . . 499, 574 
Jones, Sergt. Thompson, wounded 

in action . . . -574 

Jones' Plantation, battle of (see 

Bear Creek) . . . 100, 556 
Joyce, Capt. Peter, commands the 

guns of the cavalry brigade . 167 
his guns on Meridian campaign . 189 
at Brice's Cross-Roads . . 240 
at Hurricane Creek . . . 293 



K 



K Co., organized and enters Camp 

Harlan 8 

expedition on White River, Ark. 36 
destroys nitre-works on White 

River, Ark 37 

in action at Bear Creek . .100 
on expedition to Natchez . .174 
gallant conduct in action, third 

capture of Jackson . . . 194 
in the charge at Marais des Cygnes 335 
in action at Columbus . . 497 

saves the bridge from fire at Co- 
lumbus ..... 499 
Karge, Col. Joseph, commands First 

Brigade of Grierson's cavalry . 227 
commands detachment on expedi- 
tion to Rienzi, Miss. . . 233 
relieves the rear-guard, Sturgis' 

retreat ..... 264 
commands the division . . 294 

commands First Brigade, Wins- 
low's Division . . .310 
Keck, Lieut. J. Sloan, stubborn de- 
fense of rear, Sturgis' retreat, 260 
gallantry in action at Marais des 

Cygnes 335 

on Gen. Upton's staff . . 421 

recommended for promotion . 541 



588 



INDEX. 



Keck, Lieut. Peter R., on Gen. 

Upton's staff .... 421 
distinguished in action , . 436 

recommended for promotion, 436, 541 
Kellogg, Pvt. Benoni F., killed in 

action. . ... 62, 553 

Kelly, Samuel P., aided in raising 

Co. A 6 

Kerr, Col. Lucien B., charge upon 

Lee's cavalry at Jackson . .193 
Ketcham, Edward D., Sergeant- 

Major of the regiment . -13 

Kinney, Pvt. John, decorated for 

capture of flag and bearer . 540 
Kirkpatrick, Andrew J., Chaplain 

of the regiment . . .13 
mustered out on expiration of 

term 368 

Kirkpatrick, Pvt. John A., captured 

in action .... 557 

Kirkwood, Gov. Samuel J., visits 

Cos. A and B at Camp Mc- 

Clellan ..... 3 
Kitchen, Col. S. G., in command 

under Price .... 307 
Knott, Parson, regiment camped 

near the house of, Memphis . 228 
Koolbeck, Pvt. John, wounded in 

action . . . .321, 567 



L Co., organized in Camp Harlan . 8 
raised for Pleyel's Lancers . . 8 
marches to relieve Salem, Mo. . 34 
in action at Big Creek, Ark. . 62 
in action at Wittsburg, Ark. . 64 
on expedition to Natchez . .174 
on picket, resists attack . . 287 

sent to attack enemy's flank . 435 
in action at Selma . 449, 450, 454 
in action at Columbus . . 498 

takes Herschel V, Johnson, rebel 

leader ..... 530 
posted at Griffin, Ga. . . 535 

La Grange, Col. Oscar H., com- 
mands brigade in Wilson's 
Cavalry Corps . . 420, 571 

marches to relief of Croxton . 444 
fighting with Clanton's cavalry . 471 
fighting with Buford's . . 475 

further fighting with Clanton . 478 
takes the flags of his adversaries 478 
assault and capture of Fort Tyler, 479 
Laird, Pvt. Andrew, mortally 

wounded in action . . . 563 
Lamar, Miss., occupied by the regi- 
ment ..... 294 



PAGE 

Lamar, Col. C. A. L., rebel, killed 

in action . . . 487, 501 

Lambert, Jesse R., ist Lieut, of 

Co. I 8 

Landgraeber, Capt. Clemens, his 
battery in campaign against 
Johnston . . . .120 

Lash, Pvt. Charles W., wounded in 

action ..... 554 

Lathers, Pvt. James, wounded in 

action ..... 572 

Lauderdale Springs, reached by 
VVinslow's cavalry, Meridian 
campaign .... 209 

Lauffer, Simon P., Quarter-Master 

of the regiment . . .13 

League, Pvt. David, wounded in 

action ..... 566 

Lee, Capt. Henry S., battery at- 
tached to Winslow's Brigade . 223 

Lee, Maj.-Gen. Stephen D., com- 
mands the enemy at Canton, 

Miss 166 

driven back by the cavalry . 167 

engagement with, at Livingston . 171 
commands enemy's cavalry. Me- 
ridian campaign . . . 187 
engagements with, at Big Black, 
Baker's Creek, Clinton, and 
Jackson . 189-193, 560, 561 

Lieut. -Gen., commands the rebel 
forces, battles about Pontotoc, 

285, 564 
commands the rebel forces, battle 
of Tupelo .... 287 

Legrand, Pvt. George, captured in 

action and died . .570 

Lexington, Miss., occupied, Gre- 
nada raid .... 129 

Lick Creek (or Jones' Lane), Ark., 

engagement at . . 50, 552 

Lincoln, President, regiment votes 

unanimously for . . . 344 
news of the death of . , .521 
effect of his death on the negroes, 522 
tributes paid to . . . . 536 

Little, Levi W. , Leader of the Band, 408 

Littlejohn, Pvt., Leverett J., cap- 
tured in action and died in 
prison ..... 564 

Little Red River, Ark., held by 

Curtis . . . . .41 
action on, at Brown's Ford 41, 550 

Livingston, Miss., engagement near, 169 

Livingston, Pvt., James A., wound- 
ed and captured in action . 556 

Llewellyn Church, the regiment in 

action at .... 257 



INDEX. 



589 



Long, Brig. -Gen. Eli, commands 
division, Wilson's Cavalry 
Corps .... 419, 571 
in action at Ebenezer Church, 441, 572 
in action at Selma . . 453, 573 
wounded in action . . . 453 

promoted in the regular army . 541 
Loomis, Pvt. William, wounded in 

action . . . . .574 
Loring, Maj.-Gen. Wm. H., cut ofT 
from Pemberton at Champion's 

Hill 88 

commands the enemy, demonstra- 
tion upon Canton . . 166, 559 
commands division of the enemy. 
Meridian campaign . . 187, 560 

Lorrigan, Pvt. Daniel, killed in 

action .... 64, 553 
Loughridge, Sergt. Albert, captures 

gun at Marais des Cygnes . 336 
reconnoissance with Upton at 

Selma ..... 452 

takes Alexander H. Stephens, 

Confederate Vice-President . 530 

Louisville, Ky., regiment arrives at, 357 

camp removed to . . . 369 

Louisville, Miss., Winslow's cavalry 

reach, in search for Smith . 212 
Lovelady, Pvt. Andrew J., wound- 
ed in action .... 563 
Luddic, Pvt. Jacob, wounded in 

action ..... 570 
Lull, Pvt. Alexis, captured in action, 557 



M 



M Co., organized in Camp Harlan 8 
and A Co. march from Batesville, 

Ark., to Salem, Mo. . . 44 
loses two men from picket-post . 49 
on expedition to Natchez . .174 
on picket, resists attack . . 287 
expedition against Wetumpka . 475 
Mabry, Brig.-Gen. Hinchie P., his 

brigade of the enemy in action, 565 
Mackall, Brig.-Gen. Wm. W., in 
the defense of Georgia, last 
campaign . . 506, 508, 571 

Macon, Ga., march upon, from 

Columbus .... 505 
surrenders to Wilson . . -512 

Madisonville, Miss., expedition to, 

campaign against Jackson . 121 
Mammoth Springs, Ark., night 

alarm . . . . -39 
Mann, Sergt. Asahel, captured in 

action and exchanged . .552 

Mann, Pvt. John, killed in action, 556 



Mann, Pvt. Samuel B., captured in 

action and exchanged . .552 

Marais des Cygnes, crossing of the, 329 

battle of the . . .331, 56S 

loss of the regiment at . 338, 569 

Marianna, Ark., engagement at, 55, 553 

Marmaduke, Maj.-Gen. John S., 

with Price in Arkansas . . 304 
commands division under Price, 

307. 567 
in action at the Big Blue . 322, 568 
commands the enemy, battle of 

the Marais des Cygnes . 331, 569 
captured in battle of the Marais 
des Cygnes .... 336 
Marmiton Prairie, battle of (see 

Chariot Prairie) . . 339, 569 

Marshall's plantation, Vicksburg, 

regiment encamped on . .96 
Marsh, George W., Chief-Bugler . 13 
Matlock, Gen. (or Col.) Charles H., 
commands enemy at Cotton- 
plant, Ark. . . . .45 
Measles attacks the camp . 19, 221 
Mechanicsburg, Miss., action at, 98, 555 
second engagement at . . 99 

Memphis Appeal, newspaper, de- 
stroyed at Columbus, Ga. . 502 
Memphis, the regiment moved to, 

from Vicksburg . . .222 

work of the regiment in camp at, 228 

Forrest's attack upon . 295, 567 

lesser operations near . . 358 

Mendenhall, Pvt. John T., mortally 

wounded in action . . 470, 573 
Mercer. Brig.-Gen. Hugh W., in 
defense of Georgia, last cam- 
paign 506 

Mercer, Pvt. John A., wounded 
and captured in action and died 
in prison .... 564 

Meridian, Miss., Sherman's cam- 
paign of . . . .184 
engagement near . 203, 205, 561 
occupied by the cavalry . . 206 
destruction of property at . 207, 208 
losses of regiment in campaign of, 218 
Merriam, Corp. Harvey R., killed 

in action .... 563 

Messenger's Ferry, cavalry brigade 

encamped near . . .122 

Miller, Col. Abram O., commands 

brigade in Wilson's Corps, 420, 571 
Miller, Orrin, Captain of Co. C . 6 
Miller, Corp. George W., captured 

in action .... 552 

Miller, Sergt. George W., captures 

flag in action .... 338 



59° 



INDEX. 



Miller, Pvt. James P., decorated 

for capture of flag and bearer . <^\o 

Miller, Lieut. Samuel N., in action 

at Columbus .... 499 

Miller, Sergt. Samuel O., captured 

on duty ..... 575 

Miller, Corp. William, captured in 

action 557 

Milliken's Bend, regiment lands at, 

campaign of Vicksburg . . 79 

Millington, furnishes plan of works 

at Selma .... 434 

Mimm's Mills, Ga., engagement at, 505 

Mine Creek, battle of (see Marais 

des Cygnes) . . . 331, 568 

Miner, Pvt. Thomas, wounded in 

action ..... 556 

Minty, Col. Robert H. G., com- 
mands brigade in Wilson's 
Cavalry Corps . . 420, 571 

commands the division . 493, 505 
his action in movement upon 

Macon 511 

occupies southwest Georgia . 523 

Mississippi Central Railroad de- 
stroyed . . . . .119 

Mississippi Springs, skirmishing 

near . . . .83, 554 

Missouri, trouble with Secessionists 

on the border ... 9 

overthrow of Secessionist govern- 
ment . . . . .30 
condition of, at time of Price 
campaign .... 304 

Mobile, Canby's campaign against, 415 

Montevallo, Ala., the regiment en- 
gaged near . _ . . 435, 571 
occupied by the regiment . -435 
second engagement near . 436, 572 

Montgomery, Ala., occupied by the 

cavalry ..... 473 
destruction of cotton and other 
property . . . .475 

Montgomery's Point, landing at, 

campaign of Arkansas Post . 57 

Moore, Col. David, 21st Mo. Inf., 
in campaign against Forrest, 
commanding division . 2S1, 564 

Moore, Pvt. James D., mortally 

wounded .... 556 

Moore's Ford, Big Black River, 
crossed in demonstration upon 
Canton ..... 162 
engagement with Whitfield's cav- 
alry .... 163, 559 

Morgan, Corp. Richard H., dec- 
orated for capture of flag and 
bearer ..... 540 



Morgan, Pvt. Benjamin F., wound- 
ed in action .... 553 

Morris, Pvt. Alfred, captured in 

action ..... 552 

Morris, Pvt. Jonathan, wounded in 

action ..... 563 

Morton, Miss., skirmish at. Meri- 
dian campaign . . 202, 561 

Mosher, Pvt. David, killed in ac- 
tion . ... 49, 551 

Mount Olive, on White River, en- 
gagement of Co. F . . .550 

Mount Pleasant, Iowa, place of 

rendezvous .... 3 
relations between the people and 
the regiment at . . .17 

Mower, Brig. -Gen. Joseph A. , com- 
mands division, campaign 
against Forrest . 281, 289, 564 
commands division, Smith's sec- 
ond campaign against Forrest . 566 
commands forces sent against 
Price .... 309, 317 

Murdock, Pvt. Andrew J., cap- 
tured in action . .41, 550 

Muster in of regiment . . .13 

Mutiny of Missouri troops quelled 

by Fourth Iowa . . .318 

Myers, Pvt. Emile.woundedinaction 566 

Myers, Pvt. Samuel, captured and 

returned .... 575 

McAuley, Pvt. Robert P., captured 

in action " . . . .552 
wounded in action . . . 566 

McCabe, Pvt. William, captured 

in action . . . -551 

McCallum, Corp. John, wounded 

in action . . . i8g, 560 

McClernand, Maj.-Gen. John A., 
seeks command of campaign 
against Vicksburg . . .68 
takes command of forces about 

Vicksburg . . . -72 

captures Arkansas Post . . 72 
expedition up Arkansas River . 72 
assigned to corps command . 73 

failure at Champion's Hill . . 90 

McClintock, Pvt. John, killed in 

action . . . . -556 

McClure, Andrew W., Surgeon of 

the regiment . . . .13 
resignation of . . . .115 

McConnellee, Lieut. Wm. J., 
wounded and captured in action, 

556, 557 
McCook, Brig.-Gen. Edward M., 
commands division, Wilson's 
Cavalry Corps . . 419, 571 



INDEX. 



591 



PAGE 

McCoy, Corp. Joseph C, wounded 

in action .... 574 

McCrackin, David, Leader of the 

Band ..... 9 
McCray, Col. Thomas H., com- 
mands brigade of the enemy 
under Price .... 307 
McCrillis, Col. La Fayette, com- 
mands expedition . . .36 
McGlasson, Capt. R. B. M., leads 
charge upon bridge at Co- 
lumbus ..... 495 
McHugh, Pvt. Patrick, wounded in 

action ..... 563 
captured in action . . .570 
McKee, Capt. Samuel J., com- 
mands detachment in action at 
Fike's Ferry . . . 469, 573 

McMillen, Col. Wm. L., commands 
infantry, Sturgis' campaign, 

232, 562 
in action at Brice's Cross-Roads, 

244, 246, 248, 562 
statements of battle of Brice's 

Cross-Roads . . .271, 278 
commands brigade, campaign of 
Tupelo ..... 281 
McNair, Pvt. James M., wounded 

on picket-post . . -574 

McNeil, Brig. -Gen. John, com- 
mands brigade of Missouri 
cavalry ..... 317 
McNulty, Bugler John, wounded 
and captured in action and 
died in prison . . 563, 564 

McNulty, Pvt. Francis, captured 

in action . . . . 552 

McNulty, Pvt. Thomas, wounded 

in action .... 565 

McPherson, Maj.-Gen. James B., 
commands 17th Corps, Vicksburg 

campaign . . . -73 
in action at Raymond . . 82 
in action at Champion's Hill . 87 
position in investment of Vicks- 
burg 95 

commands army, demonstration 

upon Canton . . . 166, 559 

commands corps on Meridian 
campaign .... 185 
McWhorten, Pvt, Wm. A., cap- 
tured in action . . .551 



N 



Nashville, Tenn., the regiment 
ordered to, from Indian Terri- 
tory 418 



Natchez threatened by the enemy . 

the regiment marches with force 

to the relief of . . 174, 558 

Needles, Pvt. Abram, wounded in 

action ..... 

New Albany, Indiana, cavalry 

camp, regiment ordered to 
Newby, Aaron J., 2d Lieut, of M . 
New Carthage, La., reached in ef- 
forts to pass Vicksburg . 
Newhall, Sergt. Henry M., Co. H, 
Color-Guard .... 
Newtonia, Mo., battle between 

Blunt and Shelby . 
Ninth Illinois Cavalry served with 
Fourth Iowa .... 
Nitre Cave, Ark., first engagement 

of the regiment . . 37, 550 
Noble, Maj. John W., commanding 
Third Iowa Cavalry on Gren- 
ada raid .... 
in command of Grenada 
Colonel, in action at Brice's 
Cross-Roads .... 
statements about the battle 
in action at Ripley, Miss 
in second action at Ripley . 
in third action at Ripley 
commands detachment sent 

Kelley's Mill .... 
commands the brigade, campaign 
against Forrest . . 292, 
destroys property at Grenada 
leads assault upon Columbus 
Provost-Marshal at Columbus 
destroys the Memphis Appeal 
Noble, Pvt. Francis M., wounded 

in action 
Non-Commissioned Staff, organiza 
tion and reorganizati 
members of 
battalion, disbanded 



174 



573 

23 
8 

78 
182 
342 

50 



127 
135 



. 240 

. 272 

234, 562 

• 563 



to 



564 

284 

566 
360 

493 
501 
502 

563 



on of, 10, 



11,48 

13 

48 



Numbers of the regiment, 21,157,223,576 



O 



O'Brien (or Obrian), Pvt. John L., 

killed in action . , . 570 
Odell, Pvt. Jeremiah, captured and 

exchanged .... 575 

Ofificers, chosen by election . . 21 

character and development of . 405 

general change in Field and Staff, 113 

Ogg, First-Sergt. AmonL., wounded 

in action .... 553 

Lieutenant, commands Co. D on 

expedition .... 365 
in action at Selma . . . 458 



592 



INDEX. 



Ogg, Pvt. Elias F., wounded in 

action ..... 574 

Okalona, Miss., fighting near, cam- 
paign against Forrest . . 286 

Okatibbeha Creek, bridged by the 

cavalry ..... 204 

Old Town Creek, battle of . 2go, 565 

Organization of cavalry . . 10 

change in effected . . .11 
of regiments under the new law, 48 

Osage, battle of the (see Marais des 

Cygnes) .... 331, 568 

Osband, Col. Embury D., com- 
mands brigade Colored cavalry 359 
in action with Wirt Adams . 361 

Ottumwa, Iowa, Co. F raised at . 7 

Overmyer, John R., 2d Lieut, of I, 8 

Owen, Lieut. F., crosses the bridge 

at Columbus in action . . 495 

Oxford, Miss., occupied by Grant, 

campaign against Vicksburg . 70 
occupied by the cavalry . . 294 



Page County, Iowa, first enlist- 
ments for the regiment were in, 6 
Panola, Miss., cavalry destroys the 

railroad at . . . .69 
Parkell, Alonzo B., Captain of E . 7 
Major, tries to have the regi- 
ment ordered to Vicksburg . 79 
commands the regiment in action, 

Mechanicsburg, Miss., g8, 99, 555 
commands the regiment in action, 

Bear Creek . . . 100, 556 
commands tlie regiment in camp, 123 
commands the regiment, Grenada 

raid ..... 127 

in action at Coldwater River, 136, 558 
Parks, Pvt. Henry F., wounded in 

action 555 

wounded again on duty . . 574 

Parsons, George B., ist Lieut, of B, 6 

attacks enemy at Jones' Lane, 52, 552 

wounded in action . . 52, 552 

Patterson, James H., 2d Lieut, of C, 6 

Payne, Sergt. Elisha M., wounded 

in action .... 563 

Pay of the Volunteers . . .385 

Pea Ridge, battle of . . .31 

Co. A. reaches . . . . 32 

Pearl River, Miss. , regiment crosses, 84 

bridge destroyed by the regiment, 119 

pontoon at Jackson captured by 

the brigade .... 195 

Pearson, Pvt. James B., wounded 

in action .... 563 



Pelham, Pvt. Abraham, captured 

in action . . . .556 

Pemberton, Lieut. -Gen. John C, 
abandons defenses of the Tal- 
lahatchie 



marches against Grant's commu- 



70 
86 



nications 

defeated at Champion's Hill . 88 
surrenders Vicksburg . . 109 

Perkins, Orson N., ist Lieut, of E, 7 
commands company on expedi- 
tion . . . . .36 
Peters, John H., Captain of B . 6 
commands detachment . . 33 
commands in actions at Marianna 55 
wounded in action . . 56, 553 
occupies Haines' Bluff and Sny- 
der's Bluff . . 93, 94, 555 
in charge of captured trains, 

Grenada raid . . . .130 
in Iowa on recruiting service . 157 
promoted Lieutenant-Colonel . 113 
Lieut. -Col., commands the regi- 
ment at Vicksburg . , .221 
commands Cavalry Forces at 

Vicksburg . . . .221 

in command of the regiment . 223 
discipline in the regiment . . 228 
commands the regiment in third 

Forrest campaign . . . 282 
in action at Ripley . . . 564 
in action at Pontotoc . . 565 

in action at Tupfelo , . . 565 
in action at Old Town Creek . 566 
commands the regiment, fourth 

Forrest campaign . . . 292 

in action at the Tallahatchie 

River .... 293, 566 
commands regiment on Grierson's 

raid .... 360, 570 

commands the regiment . . 421 
in action at Six Mile Creek, 438, 572 
in action at Selma . . 456, 573 
in action at Columbus . . 573 

commands Post of Atlanta . . 535 
Peterson, Pvt. Alfred A., wounded 

in action .... 563 

Phelps, Teamster Hezekiah J., 

wounded in action . . 573 

Phillips, Lieut. -Col. Jesse J., junc- 
tion with his brigade at Grenada, 133 
Phillips, Col. John F., his brigade 
in the battle of the Big Blue, 

321, 568 
in the battle of Marais des Cygnes 332 
Pickel, Lieut. Hugh M., defense of 

the rear, Sturgis' retreat . 260 

daring act at Selma . . . 469 



f 



INDEX. 



593 



Pickens, Pvt. Alpheus, on recon- 

noissance with Upton . -452 

Pierce, Abial R., Captain of M . 8 

early service on Missouri border, g 

sent to Iowa on recruiting service, 157 

Major, commands tiie regiment, 

Sturgis' campaign . . 232, 562 

in action at Ripley, Miss., 234, 562 
in action at Brice's Cross-Roads, 

243, 247, 248 
statement of the battle . . 273 
second action at Ripley . 259, 563 
commands the regiment in Price 

campaign . . . 310, 567 

in action at the Big Blue . 321, 568 
in action at Big Blue Prairie, 326, 568 
leads charge of the regiment at 

Marais des Cygnes . . 334, 568 

leads charge on Chariot Prairie . 340 
wounded in action. Chariot Prai- 
rie . . . . . 341, 569 
recommended for promotion . 541 
Pierce, Corp. Joseph W., captured 

in action .... 556 

Sergeant, wounded in action . 569 
Pilgrim, Pvt. Garrett, killed in 

action ..... 563 
Pilot Knob, Mo., battle of, Price 

campaign , , . . .315 
Piatt, Pvt. Milton, wounded in action 552 
Pleasonton, Maj.-Gen. Alfred, com- 
manding with Rosecrans in Mo. 307 
commands the cavalry. Price 

campaign . . . 317, 567 

at battle of the Big Blue . . 327 
at battle of the Marais des 

Cygnes 337 

at liattle of Chariot Prairie . 340 

congratulatory and farewell or- 
ders .... 347, 348 
Pleyel's Lancers, abandoned for the 

Fourth Iowa Cavalry . . 8 

Polk, Lieut. -Gen. Leonidas, com- 
mands the enemy. Meridian 
campaign . . . 187, 560 

retreat from Meridian . . 206 

Polk's plantation, attack upon 

picket-post at . . 49, 551 

Pontotoc, Miss., engagements near, 286 
Porter, Asbury B., Colonel of the 

regiment . . . .13 

personal care in purchase of the 

horses . . . . .22 
resigns . . . . .113 

Porter, Admiral David D., fleet in 

action, Arkansas Post . . 72 

fleet in flank movement by 
Steele's Bayou . . .77 

38 



PAGB 

Porter, Captain Watson B., com- 
mands Co. C in action . 41, 550 
Port Gibson, Miss., battle of . 80 
raid against intended . . . 160 
Pray, Capt. Samuel M., in action 

at Selma . . . 449, 455 

takes Herschel V. Johnson . 530 

at Griftin, paroling Confederates, 535 
Prentiss, Maj.-Gen. Benjamin M., 
commands at Helena, including 
Fourth Iowa . . . .60 
Price campaign, begun from Mem- 
phis _ .... 310, 567 
ended in the Indian Territory . 343 
numbers and losses in . 351, 567 

congratulatory orders upon . 347 

Price, Maj.-Gen. Sterling, plans 
campaign to recover Missouri, 

304. 307 
his orders for the campaign . 306 

character and influence of . , 306 

his forces in the campaign, 

308, 317, 344, 567 
crosses the Arkansas and enters 

Missouri . . . .312 

repulsed by Ewing at Pilot 

Knob . . . . .315 

fighting with Curtis and Blunt . 319 
retreats upon defeat at Big Blue 

and Westport . . . 325 

pursued by the cavalry . . 328 
final defeat of . . , . 343 

driven beyond the Arkansas . 343 
his report of the campaign . 351 

Prices of necessaries in the South . 413 
Pursel, William, Captain of I .8 
commands the regiment on expe- 
dition .... 160, 559 



R 



Rafferty, Pvt. John W., wounded 

in action . . . .568 

Ralston, Pvt. Robert, wounded in 

action ..... 569 

Ramey, Pvt. Francis S., captured 

in action .... 557 

Rations allowed the Volunteers . 382 

Ray, Trumpeter Robert E., wound- 
ed in action . . . -573 

Ray, Pvt. William L., wounded in 

action 554 

Raymond, Edward W., Quarter- 
master-Sergeant . . .13 
Lieutenant and Quartermaster, 
mustered out .... 368 

Raymond, Miss., battle of, Vicks- 

burg campaign . . .83 



594 



INDEX. 



Raymond road, action on, Meridian 

campaign . . . 190, 560 

Reagan, John H., Confederate P. 

M. Gen., captured with Davis, 529 
Recruiting service, detail sent to 

Iowa on . . . . . 157 
Recruits, numbers and quality . 223 
Rector, Benjamin, Captain of A . 6 
Major, commands in action at 

Jones' Lane . . .50, 552 
captured in action and exchanged, 

51. 552 
died at Helena of disease , . 60 
Reeves, Corp. Elza A., wounded in 

action ..... 574 
Reynolds, Lieut. John Tyler, com- 
mands detachment in action at 
Pike's Ferry . . . 469, 573 
carries news of capture of Jeff. 

Davis 535 

Reynolds, Gov. Thomas C, joins 

Price, invasion of Missouri . 305 
Rice, Pvt, Albert, wounded in 

action ..... 563 
Richmond, Va. , cavalry set out for, 465 
rumor of fall of, received through 

rebels ..... 477 
news of the fall of . . .510 
Riddle, Pvt. Alexander, captured 

in action .... 552 

Ridenour, Pvt. Benjamin D., dis- 
tinguishes Co. C . . . 396 
Riley, Trumpeter John Q., wound- 
ed in action .... 572 
Rinard, Pvt. Church B., wounded 

in action .... 565 

Ripley, Miss., engagement at, 234, 562 
Third and Fourth Iowa in action 

with Forrest at . . 257, 563 
Third and Fourth Iowa in action at 284 
Ritcheson, Pvt. James, wounded in 

action ..... 566 
Robertson, Brig.-Gen. Felix H., 
aids in defense of Georgia . 506, 571 
brings news of cessation of hos- 
tilities . . . .510, 511 
Robinson, Assistant-Surgeon Wil- 
liam, appointed Surgeon . 115 
Surgeon, his energy in discharg- 
ing ineffective recruits . . 224 
Robinson, Capt. George I., his 
Chicago Board of Trade Bat- 
tery in tlie Selma campaign, 

420, 450, 455, 456 
Rockhold, Pvt. Zur, wounded in 

action ..... 563 
Rocky Creek, near Macon, last 

conflict of Wilson's campaign, 511 



PAGE 

Roddey, Brig.-Gen. Philip D., com- 
mands brigade, enemy's cavalry, 
Selma campaign . . .572 
in action at Montevallo, 435, 436, 571 

Rodgers, Lieut. Alexander, cap- 
tured in action . . . 552 
Captain, commands Co. G on 
special service . . . 421 

Rodney, Capt. George B., his Bat- 
tery, 4th U. S. Art., in the 
Selma campaign, 

420, 437, 438, 451, 455, 491 

Rolla, Mo., regiment begins iield 

service at . . . .31 

Rooney, Corp. James, killed in 

action ..... 565 

Root, Pvt. Abner, wounded in 

action ..... 568 

Rosecrans, Maj.-Gen. Wm. S., 
commanding in Missouri, 
Price campaign . . . 307 
congratulatory order . . . 348 

Ross, Brig.-Gen. Lawrence S., 
commands brigade, enemy's 
cavalry, Meridian campaign, 

209, 560 

Rowley, Corp. Amos O., Color- 
Guard 182 

Rucker, Gen. Edward W., com- 
mands the enemy in action, 234, 562 

Ruggles, Brig.-Gen. Daniel, com- 
mands rebel forces, Grenada 
raid . " . . . .135 

Rust, J. Marshall, 2d Lieut, of A . 6 

Rust, Pvt. John B., killed in action, 570 



Sabres, modern cavalry, received, 370 

Sadler, Pvt., Henry R., wounded 

and captured in action . 44, 551 
captured in action . . . 556 

Saint, First-Sergt. Exum R., com- 
mands Co. E . . . -33 

Saint, Corp. George W., wounded 

in action .... 563 

Salado Mountains, regiment makes 

expedition into . . • 42 

Salem, Mo., relieved by Cos. F and 

L 34 

march to, by Cos. A and M . 44 

Sanborn, Brig.-Gen., John B., com- 
mands brigade, Missouri cav- 
alry 317 

in action at Big Blue . . . 326 
in action at Newtonia . . 342 

Satartia, Miss., engagement with 

Wirt Adams' cavalry . . 99 



INDEX. 



595 





PAGE 




PAGE 


Saulsbury, Tenn., rendezvous for 




Shelby, Gen. J. 0., commands the 




campaign against Forrest 


282 


enemy, battle of Chariot 




Saunders, Pvt. Worthy S., wounded 




Prairie .... 339, 


569 


in action .... 


566 


battle with Blunt at Newtonia . 


342 


Sawyer, Pvt. Charles C, wounded 




Sheppard, Pvt. George W., wound- 




in action .... 


569 


ed in action . . . 64, 


553 


Saxton, Pvt. Daniel, captured in 




Sherman, Pvt. Eli, decorated for 




action 


564 


capture of flag and bearer 


540 


Schloeder, Pvt. Adolph, wounded in 




Sherman, Maj.-Gen. Wm. T., fails 




action ..... 


563 


in attack at Chickasaw Bluffs . 


72 


School for ofificers .... 


15 


early operations against Vicksburg 


59 


Scott, Pvt. Isaac S., captured in 




aids McClernand in capture of 




action ..... 


556 


Arkansas Post 


72 


Scott, Pvt. William, unhorses the 




assigned to command of 15th 




enemy's commander 


499 


Army Corps .... 


73 


Searcy, Ark., end of Curtis' march 




attempt to flank Vicksburg by 




against Little Rock 


41 


Steele's Bayou 


77 


Second Iowa Cavalry, Cos. A and B 




Fourth Iowa assigned to corps of, 


So 


raised for .... 


2 


campaign against Jackson . 


116 


serves with the Fourth Iowa 


282 


orders the Grenada raid 


124 


Sells, Wm. H., ist Lieut, of L . 


8 


ordersdemonstration upon Canton, 


158 


Selma campaign, conditions at 




letter to Winslow 


165 


opening of ... . 


410 


requests the regiment to forego 




plan of ... . 416, 


429 


Veteran furlough . 


182 


forces of the enemy . 


423 


preparations for the Meridian 




supplies for .... 


428 


campaign .... 


184 


march begins .... 


428 


marches against Meridian . 189, 


560 


Selma, plan of fortifications ob- 




orders the cavalry to attack Jack- 




tained . ' . 


434 


son 


191 


fortifications of . 


447 


gives orders for destruction of 




battle of . . . . 450, 


573 


property at Meridian 


207 


position of Fourth Iowa in 




returns to Vicksburg escorted by 




battle 


451 


the Fourth Iowa 


217 


charge of the Fourth Iowa 


456 


orders Fourth Iowa to Memphis, 


222 


fall of 


457 


his desire to destroy Forrest 


226 


losses, captures, and destruction 




orders second campaign against 




in battle of . , . 459, 


467 


Forrest ..... 


230 


Shaffer, Pvt. Alfred, wounded in 




orders third campaign against 




action . . . . . 


570 


Forrest ..... 


281 


Shaffer, Pvt. Cornelius, wounded in 




congratulations upon the fall of 




action . . . . . 


570 


Richmond .... 


474 


Shaffer, Pvt. Ephraim, captured in 




Shirley, Pvt. John S., captured in 




action and died 


563 


action 


556 


Shanks, Col. David, commands bri- 




wounded in action 


574 


gade under Price . 


308 


Shogola Creek, skirmishing at, 




Sharp's carbines supplied . 127, 


183 


Meridian campaign 


202 


Shaw, Col. Wm. T., commands 




Shopbell, Pvt. Henry, captured in 




division under Smith, cam- 




action .... 49, 


552 


paign against Forrest 


566 


Shrack, Pvt. Samuel J., wounded 




Sheaf or, Lieut. M. V. B., com- 




in action .... 


570 


mands detachment at Augusta, 




Shrack, Pvt. Theodore, captured in 




Ga 


476 


action ..... 


570 


Shelby, Gen. Joseph O., under 




Sibley, Pvt. Jabez, wounded and 




Price in Arkansas . 


304 


captured in action . . 44, 


551 


commands division in Price's 




killed in action . . . 82, 


554 


army .... 307, 


567 


Sickness in the regiment 


39 


in battle at Westport, Price 




Sidney, Iowa, Co. A organized and 




campaign .... 


325 


encamped at . 


5 



596 



INDEX. 



PAGE 

Sisson, Corp. Charles W., mortally 

M!K)unded in action . . 56, 553 

Six-Mile Creek, Ala., engagement 

of regiment at . . 438, 572 

Sixteenth Army Corps, the regi- 
ment in cavalry division of . 223 
Skiles, Sergt. Robert, decorated for 

gallantry .... 541 

Slavin, Pvt. John, killed in action, 568 
Slemmons, Col. Wm. F. , commands 

brigade. Price's cavalry . . 307 
captured in battle of the Marais 
des Cygnes .... 336 
Smith, Maj.-Gen. Andrevs' J., com- 
mands division, Meridian cam- 
paign ..... i8g 
commands army, third campaign 

against Forrest . .281, 564 

commands army, fourth campaign 

against Forrest . . . 291 

commands forces, campaign 
against Price . . . 309, 317 
Smith, Pvt. Charles H., capture 

and escape . . . 141, 558 
Smith, Corp. Charles N., wounded 

and captured in action . . 556 

Smith, Pvt. Isaac, captured in action 

and exchanged . . . 564 
Smith, Corp. Simon, captured on 

duty _ . _ . . . .574 

wounded in action . . . 563 

Smith, Pvt. William, wounded in 

action ..... 570 
Smith, Maj.-Gen. Wm. Sooy, com- 
mands provisional cavalry corps 
for campaign of Meridian . 186 
his orders for the campaign . 188 
his fighting and failure, 188, 208, 213 
Sherman's efforts to reach him, 

208 to 213 
Smithburg, Pvt. Andrew D., 

wounded in action . . . 565 
Smizer's farm, foraging party on . 61 
Snyder's Bluff, Miss., occupied by 

the regiment . . . .94 
camp of the regiment moved to . 100 
Society Hill, Ala., shows Union 

sentiment .... 482 
Soldiers, their life and develop- 
ment ..... 372 
South, Pvt. Richard Major, wound- 
ed in action . . . .553 
Spearman, Cornelius F., Capt. of D, 6 
early service on Missouri border, 9 
commands Cos. D and G on de- 
tached service . . -35 
Major, commands the regiment 
in action . . . 62, 553 



Spearman, Maj. C. F., expedition 

to Arkansas Post . . -56 

demonstration upon Canton . 167 
expedition to Natchez . .174 

campaign of Meridian . 188, 560 
in camp in Veterans' absence . 221 
leaves the regiment, term of ser- 
vice expired .... 368 
Speers, Pvt. Robert, captured in 

action . . . . .570 
Spencer carbine supplied regiment, 282 
Spicer, Wm. J., courier, capture 

and execution of . . . 213 
Springfield, Mo., regiment en- 
camped at . . . -35 
Stall, Pvt. Milton W., killed in 

action ..... 563 
Stamm, Lieut. Andrew N., honor- 
ably discharged . . . 368 
Stanton, Edwin >M., Sec'y of War, 
issues special order to raise 
the regiment .... 3 
famous order to continue the war, 516 
Starke, Col. Peter B., rebel regi- 
ment of engaged. Bear Creek, 102 
his brigade routed at Jackson . 194 
commands brigade, Forrest's cav- 
alry, Selma campaign . . 571 
St. Louis, Mo., regiment arrives at, 25 
gives reception to the Veterans . 219 
Statistics, with casualties . . 576 
Starr, Col. Matthew H., mortally 

wounded in" action . . 301 

Steedman, Maj.-Gen. James B., 

commands the department . 540 
orders muster out of Fourth Iowa, 545 
Stewart, Pvt. Thomas, captured in 

action 557 

Stocks, Sergt. James H., Color- 
Guard 182 

wounded in action . . .573 
Stockton, Pvt. Roberts, captured in 

action . . . . -557 
Stone, George A., Major of the regi- 
ment 13 

Straw, Pvt. John, wounded in action, 563 
Sturgis, Brig. -Gen. Samuel D., 
commands expedition against 
Forrest .... 227, 562 
commands second expedition 

against Forrest . . 230, 562 

character of ... . 231 

in action at Price's Cross-Roads, 

238 to 263, 562 
report of Brice's Cross-Roads . 270 
procures exonerating statements 

from subordinates . . . 280 

relieved of command . . . 280 



INDEX. 



597 



Supernumerary second-lieutenants 1 1 
Sutherland, Pvt. John, wounded in 

action ..... 563 
Swan, Simeon D., Major of the 

regiment . . . .13 

Lieut. -Col., ordered to join Grant, 79 
commands in action, Fourteen- 
Mile Creek , . .81, 554 
in action before Jackson , 83, 554 
commands the cavalry in action, 

99. 555 
resigns . , . . .113 
Swan, Pvt. Charles A., captured in 

action ..... 563 
Swan, Pvt. Charles G., decorated 

for capture of flag . . . 540 
Swan's spring used at Camp Har- 
lan 5 



Taber, Chief-Trumpeter Daniel J., 

killed in action at Selma , 457, 573 
Tactics, Scott's cavalry, first book 

supplied . . . -15 

replaced by Cooke's . . -15 
use of Scott's restored in part . 427 
Talbot's Ferry, Ark., second en- 
gagement of the regiment, 38, 550 
Talladega, Ala., engagement near, 

(see Blue Mountain) . . 516 
Tallahatchie River, the regiment in 

action at .... 293 

Pemberton driven from, by dem- 
onstration upon Grenada . 70 
engagement of cavalry at . . 293 
Tallahatta, engagement at . 203, 561 
Taylor, Capt., James D., 17th 
Indiana Mounted Inf., killed 
in action by Forrest . . 441 
Taylor, Lieut. -Gen. Richard, com- 
mands Confederate forces, 
Selma campaign . 423, 448, 571 
flight from Selma . . 458, 462 
report of fall of Selma . . 461 
Teeman, Pvt. Frederick, wounded 

in action .... 566 

Tenth Missouri Cavalry, brigaded 

with Fourth Iowa . . -159 
in action at Baker's Creek . . igo 
in action at Jackson . . . 194 

in Sturgis' campaign against P'or- 

rest ..... 232 

in action at Brice's Cross-Roads, 

240, 243, 246, 254, 275 
in campaign against Price . .310 
in action at Independence . 320 

in action at Big Blue . . 326 



PAGE 

Tenth Missouri Cavalry, in action 

at the Trading Post . . 330 
in action at Marais des Cygnes . 333 
in action at Chariot Prairie . 339 

in Wilson's Cavalry Corps, Selma 

campaign .... 420 
audacity in destroying Bibb Iron- 
works 436 

daring attack upon enemy's line . 437 
detachment against Clapp's fac- 
tory 490 

charge upon bridge, Columbus . 494 
mustered out .... 538 
Terry, Pvt. Stewart B., wounded 

and captured in action . . 562 
Texas cavalry, 21st regiment, en- 
gagement with . . .50 
under Whitfield in Miss. . . 140 
Third Iowa Cavalry, first serves 

with the Fourth . . .61 
the Fourth Iowa brigaded with . 115 
on the Grenada raid . 127, 129, 135 
in action at the Cold water . .136 
on first campaign of Sturgis 

against Forrest . . . 227 
on expedition to capture Chalmers 230 
on second campaign, Sturgis 

against Forrest . . . 232 
in action at Ripley . . . 234 
in action at Brice's Cross-Roads, 

243, 272 
in action at Ripley . . .258 
on Smith's first campaign against 

Forrest 282 

sent against enemy at Kelly's 

Mills 284 

brilliant movement in action . 286 
in action with Fourth Iowa at 

Tupelo . . . . .287 
aiding infantry in action at Ellis- 
town ..... 290 
on Smith's second campaign 

against Forrest . . . 292 
on the campaign against Price . 310 
fine fighting at Independence . 320 
in action at Trading Post . . 330 

in action at Marais des Cygnes . 335 
captures rebel generals Marma- 

duke and Cabell . . . 338 
in Wilson's Cavalry Corps, Selma 

campaign .... 420 
on expedition to Florence, Ala. . 428 
spirited charge near Montevallo . 437 
in action at Ebenezer Church, 443, 572 
at the battle of Selma . . 450 
first in the assault upon Columbus 493 
ordered to be mustered out . 545 

mustered out . . . ■ 5-^7 



59S 



INDEX. 



PAGE 1 

Thirteenth Army Corps, regiment 

assigned to . . . 60, 73 
Tibbetts, Sergt. Polk, wounded in 

action ..... 566 
Tishomingo Creek, the enemy met, 236 
battle of, see Erice's Cross-Roads, 237 
Tobesofkee Creek, Ga., engage- 
ment at . . . . . 505 
Toombs, Robert, at Columbus, Ga., 

the day of its capture . . 487 
suffered to escape . . . 530 
Totten, Corp. Charles, v/ounded in 

action ..... 569 
Tracey, Pvt. Alfred A., captured in 

action and died . . . 564 

Trading- Post, Kan., fighting at, 328, 56S 

Troy, Samuel S., ist Lieut, of H, 7 

Tucker, John T., 2d Lieut, of D . 7 

wounded in action . . 56, 553 

Tullis, Thomas C, Captain of G . 7 

on expedition to White River . 36 

dies at Helena, of disease . 60 

Tunnel Hill, Miss,, engagement at 

202, 561 
Tupelo, occupied by Winslow's 

Brigade ..... 286 
fighting on picket-line . 286, 565 
battle of ... . 2S8, 565 
engagement on the Pontotoc road, 

287, 565 
second engagement on the Pon- 
totoc road . . . 287, 565 
Tyler, Col. Charles A., commands 
brigade of unarmed and dis- 
mounted men in Price's army, 

308, 351, 567 
Tyler, Brig-Gen. Robert C, aids 

in the defense of Georgia, 479, 571 
killed in action at Fort Tyler . 481 



U 



Ullery, Benjamin, first death in 

the regiment . . . .19 
Union carbines issued . . 127, 183 
Uptagraft (or Updegraff), Pvt. 

Jacob, captured on picket-post, 575 
Upton, Emory, Bvt. Maj.-Gen., 
contends with Gen. Dana for 
Winslow's Brigade . . 359 

cavalry camp named for, Louis- 
ville, Ky. . . ', .357 
commands division in Wilson's 

Cavalry Corps . 357, 419, 571 
military career .... 422 
division occupies Montevallo . 435 
in action at Ebenezer Church, 443, 572 
to lead forlorn hope at Selma . 451 



PACK 

Upton, Emory, Bvt. Maj.-Gen., 
directed to make the attack 
upon Columbus . . . 477 
in action at Columbus . 496, 573 

his high opinion of his division, 518 
his speech to the Tenth Missouri, 538 
promoted in the regular army . 541 
his final order to the troops . 547 



V 



Van Clear (or Van Cleve), Pvt. 

James H., wounded in action, 574 
Vandever's Brigade, the regiment 

joined to .... 47 

the regiment withdrawn from . 50 
Van Doran, Pvt. George W., killed 

in action . . . .556 

Vanorsdol, Pvt. Francis M., 

wounded in action . . . 566 
Vanorsdol, Sergt. James O., 

wounded in action . . .556 
Lieutenant, in action at Jackson, 194 
Vaughn, Pvt. Isaac M., mortally 

wounded in action . . .555 
Vernon, Miss., raid against in- 
tended ..... 160 
skirmishing near . . . 161 

Veteran reenlistment of the regi- 
ment ..... 178 
Veteran furlough . 182, 217, 219, 221 
Vicksburg, situation at opening of 

campaign . . . .65 
operations of Farragut and Wil- 
liams against . . . .66 
Halleck retains control of opera- 
tions . . . . .67 
attempts to reach by canal . . 73 
Grant's boats run the batteries . 78 
the regiment ordered into the 

campaign . . . -79 
invested . . . . .94 
the first assault upon . . -95 
the second assault upon . . 95 
service of regiment during siege, 95, 97 
surrender of ... . 109 
expedition to, from Memphis . 358 
Volunteers, education and develop- 
ment of .... 372 
anecdotes of ... . 388 
Von Zinken, Col. Leon, commands 

Post of Columbus . . . 487 



W 



Wagon-masters . . .12 

Wagers, Pvt. Henry B., wounded 

and captured in action . .556 



\ 



INDEX. 



599 



Waldron, Geo. W., Adjutant of 

the regiment , . . .13 

Walker, Pvt. Francis R., wounded 

in action .... 555 

Walker, Pvt. James A., captured in 

action ..... 570 

Walker, Pvt. Meli, wounded in ac- 
tion 570 

Wallace, Lieut. -Col. M.R.M., com- 
mands cavalry sent to Natchez 174 

Ward-master . . . .12 

Waring, Col., George E., Jr., com- 
mands cavalry division . . 227 
commands First Brigade, Grier- 

son's Division . . . 232 

in action at Brice's Cross-Roads, 

238, 243, 244 
movements in the retreat, 250, 253, 

258, 264 

Warner, Pvt. John Adam, captured 

in action and died in prison . 563 

Washburn, Brig. -Gen. Cadwalla- 
der C, commands cavalry at 
Helena . . . . .60 
Maj-Gen., in command at 

Memphis .... 225 

his credulity .... 229 
escapes Forrest .... 297 

Washburn, Pvt. Cyrus, in charge 

of Woodruff guns . . .62 

captured with gun . . 105, 556 

Washburn, Pvt, Levi, captured 

in action . . . .570 

Washburn, Pvt. Ralph T., captured 

in action .... 570 

Washington, Mo., scene of a mutiny 

quelled by Fourth Iowa . . 318 

Weber's Falls, Ind. Terr., end of 

march in Price campaign . 343 

Wellman, Com.-Sergt. Lorenzo D., 

wounded in action . . . 552 

Wells, Pvt. Frederick L., wounded 

in action 4 . . . 553 

West Plains, Mo., occupied by 

Army of the Southwest . , 39 

Westport, battle of . . . 322 

Wheeler, Maj-Gen. Joseph, com- 
mands escort to Davis in his 
flight .... 526 

White, Lieut. -Col. Frank, his 

charge at Ebenezer Church . 441 
receives the surrender at Macon, 512 

White, Pvt. David L., captured in 

action ..... 570 

White, Pvt. John L., sentenced to 

be shot . . . , .178 

White, Pvt. Samuel R., captured in 

action and died in prison, 172, 559 



PAGE 

White River, Ark., first engage- 
ment of the regiment . . 36 
engagement on, of Co. F . -43 
White's Station, Tenn., engage- 
ment of Cos. A and B . . 363 
Whitfield, Brig.-Gen. John W., 
commands rebel cavalry, Jack- 
son campaign . . . .118 
hangs John Buck . , . 140 
met in action, demonstration 

upon Canton .... 160 
battle offered him . . 163, 559 
Whiting, Frederick S., ist Lieut. 

of M 8 

Captain, commands detachment 

on expedition . . 475-477 

superintends construction of 

bridges 534 

Wilkin, Col. Alexander, gth Minne- 
sota Inf., in action at Brice's 
Cross-Roads . . . 247, 250 
commands brigade, campaign 

against Forrest . . .281 
killed in action at Tupelo . . 282 
Wilkinson, Pvt. Thomas M., 
wounded and captured in ac- 
tion ..... 564 
Williams, Pvt. Oliver J. (or Josiah), 

• wounded in action . .573 

Williams, Maj. Martin H., his 
statement of battle of Brice's 
Cross-Roads .... 272 
Williams, Pvt. John W., killed in 

action ..... 552 
Williamson, Pvt. Levi B., wounded 

and captured in action . 552, 556 
Wilson's Cavalry Corps, composi- 
tion of . . , . . 419 
Wilson, Bvt. Maj. -Gen. James PL, 
commands the cavalry of the 
grand military division . . 416 

Fourth Iowa assigned to his corps 357 
his military career . . .421 

his care and zeal in organization 

and discipline . . . 427 

ordered against Tuscaloosa and 

Selma ..... 416 
authorized to conduct indepen- 
dent campaign . . . 416 
opens the campaign . . 429, 571 
comments on the first conflicts of 

the campaign . . . 436 

plan of attack upon Selma . 450 

in action at Selma . . 455, 573 
leads charge upon the works . 456 
his adversary's opinion of him . 463 
confers with Forrest and decides 
to join Sherman . . . 465 



6oo 



INDEX. 



Wilson, Bvt. Maj-Gen. James H., 

occupies Montgomery . . 473 

in action at Columbus . 492, 497 

leaves Columbus for the Carolinas, 504 

receives news of cessation of hos- 
tilities 510 

ordered to resume hostilities . 517 

his opinion of the cavalry . .518 

his movements to capture Davis 
and others .... 522 

promoted in the regular army . 541 

his final order to the corps . 543 

Wilson, Pvt. John M., wounded in 

action 553 

Winona, Miss., occupied, Grenada 

raid 131 

occupied again, Grierson's raid, 360 
Winslow, Edward F., Capt. of F, 7 

sent to relief of Salem, Mo, , 34 

commands F on special service . 42 

recaptures men and wagons taken 
at Gist's plantation . 43, 551 

in action on White River . 43, 550 

commands detail on foraging 
expedition . . . .61 

commands cavalry in expedition 
against Wittsburg . . 64, 553 

Major, influence in getting the 
regiment ordered to Vicksburg, 79 

reconnoissance, Fourteen-Mile 
Creek . . , . .81 

distinguished in action, Fourteen- 
Mile Creek . . . .82 

wounded in action at Mechanics- 
burg . . . .99. 555 

promoted Colonel and takes com- 
mand . , . . .113 

Colonel, commands the regiment, 
campaign against Johnston . 117 

attacks the enemy, Bear Creek 
near Canton . . . .120 

commands cavalry sent against 
Madisonville .... 121 

commands independent brigade 
of cavalry .... 123 

his orders for march from Vicks- 
burg to Memphis . . .124 

in command of two brigades at 
Grenada, Miss. . . . 124 

on Grenada raid . 127-138, 558 

in action at Coldwater River . 136 

successful completion of Grenada 
raid 137 

Chief of Cavalry, Fifteenth Army 
Corps 158 

his orders for demonstration upon 
Canton ..... 158 

occupies Brownsville . . .160 



offers battle at Benton . . 163 
letter from Sherman on Grenada 

and Canton movements . . 165 
commands the cavalry, McPher- 
son's demonstration upon Can- 
ton 167 

in action at Brownsville . . 167 
captures Pearl River pontoon at 

Jackson ..... 195 
interest in Veteran re-enlistment, 180 
commands the cavalry, Meridian 

campaign .... 189 
attacks Lee on flank at Jackson, 191 
in action, capture of Jackson . 195 
reconnoissance toward Canton . 2CX> 
builds floating bridge over the 

Okatibbeha .... 205 
captures Meridian . . . 206 
march to Lauderdale Springs, 

search for Gen. Sooy Smith . 209 
prepares to receive attack . . 209 
cavalry movements returning from 

Meridian .... 210 

in command of regiment as escort 

to Sherman .... 217 
takes the regiment to Iowa on 

Veteran furlough . . . 219 
procures remount for regiment . 222 
commands Second Brigade, 

Grierson's Division . . 223 

discipline in the brigade under . 228 
commands expedition to capture 

Chalmers at Hernando . . 230 
commands brigade, second Sturgis 

campaign against Forrest . 232 
operations at Brice's Cross-Roads, 

238-251 
covers Sturgis' retreat . . 249 

urges Sturgis to fight Forrest . 252 
thanked by Sturgis for good con- 
duct of brigade . . . 269 
inaction at Ripley, Sturgis' retreat 257 
his conduct at Brice's Cross- 
Roads ..... 270 
in action at Ripley, Miss. . 258, 563 
commands brigade, third cam- 
paign against Forrest . . 282 
service of, campaign of Tupelo, 286 
in action at Cherry Creek , 285, 565 
in action, Harrisburg Road, 287, 565 
in action at Tupelo . . 287, 565 
in action at Old Town Creek, 290, 565 
commands division, fourth cam- 
paign against Forrest . 292, 566 
in action at the Tallahatchie 

River .... 293, 566 
in action on Hurricane Creek, 

293. 569 



INDEX. 



60 1 



Winslow, Colonel Edward F., dis- 
abled by wound . . . 294 
commands division, Price cam- 
paign . . . . . 310 
novel bridge-building, Price cam- 
paign 313 

commands brigade, Pleasonton's 

provisional division . 317, 567 

in action at Independence, 320, 567 
placed in charge of the field, 
battle of the Big Blue River, 

321, 568 
wounded in action at the Big Blue, 

324, 568 
commands brigade, Grierson's 

raid to Vicksburg . . . 359 
his activity in preparation for 

last campaign . . . 369 

promoted, Bvt. Brig.-Gen. . 407 

Bvt. Brig.-Gen., commands First 
Brigade, Upton's Division, 
Wilson's Corps, . . 420, 571 

bridges the Cahawba and takes 

Montevallo, Ala. . . . 432 
directs charge at Selma . . 456 
in command of post at Selma . 466 
destroys property and supplies 

at Selma .... 466 

in action at, Columbus . . 496 

in command of post at Columbus, 501 
destroys property and supplies at 

Columbus .... 501 
congratulatory order on Selma 

campaign . . . .519 
congratulatory order, close of 

campaign . . , .519 
commands the division in pursuit 

of Davis .... 523 

service in reconstruction of rail- 
road to Nashville . . .533 
his order to the brigade upon 

mustering out . . . 546 

farewell order to the regiment . 546 
Winslow's Brigade, composition and 

campaigns of, 127, 160, 186, 227, 
232, 282, 292, 310, 360, 420 
in action, Coldwater River, 136, 558 
in action at Moore's Ford . 163, 559 
in action at Brownsville . 167, 559 
in action at the Bogue Chito, 16S, 559 
in action at Livingston, . 169, 559 
in action, Raymond Road . 190, 560 
in action at Baker's Creek . 191, 560 
in action at Jackson . . 193, 561 

in action at Morton . . 202, 561 

in action at Tunnel Hill . 202, 561 
in action at Tallahatta . 204, 561 

in action at Meridian . . 206, 561 



in action at Brice's Cross-Roads, 

242-249 
in action, Sturgis' retreat, 

249, 256, 257, 260-265 
in action at Ripley . . 258, 263 
in action at Cherry Creek . 285, 565 
in action near Pontotoc . .286 

in action at Tupelo . . 287, 565 

in action at Harrisburg . 285, 565 
in action at Old Town Creek, 290, 565 
in action at Tallahatchie River, 

293, 566 
in action at Hurricane Creek, 

293, 566 
in action at Independence . 320, 567 
in action at the Big Blue . 321, 568 
in action at Big Blue Prairie, 326, 568 
in action at the Trading Post, 

328, 568 
in action at Marais des Cygnes, 

333. 569 
in action at Chariot Prairie, 339, 569 
ordered to Nashville to join Gen. 

Thomas ..... 344 
in action near Six Mile Creek, 437 
in action at Ebenezer Church, 443, 572 
in action at Selma . . . 450 
sent north from Selma to reach 

Croxton ..... 466 
assigned to the assault upon Col- 
umbus ..... 490 
in action, assault upon Columbus, 

493- 573 
in occupation of Macon, Ga. . 513 
Winslow, Henry E., ist Lieut. 

ofC 6 

Wirz, Henry, conviction of . .156 

Witherspoon's plantation, near 

Helena, regiment encamped on, 46 
Wittsburg, Ark., the regiment in 

action at . . . 64, 553 

Wixon's plantation, near Vicksburg, 

camp removed to . . -99 

Woman's Loyal League of Iowa 

presents flag to the "Veterans," 181 
Wood, Lieut. -Col, Robert C, Jr., 

commands enemy at Bear 

Creek .... 102, 556 
Wood, Pvt. Robert C, captured at 

Columbus .... 491 
decorated for gallantry in action, 541 
Woodruff, Elias B., Lieut, of F, 

commands company. Meridian 

campaign .... 196 
Woodruff guns received by the 

regiment . . . .62 

Woods, Col. Charles R., his brigade 

in action . . . 120, 557 



6o: 



INDEX. 



Woods, Wm. W., 2d Lieut, of L . 8 
Captain, commands part of regi- 
ment cut off in action . . 260 
Major, second in command, 

Grierson's raid to Vicksburg, 360 
in action near Montevallo, 435, 572 
commands battalion, assault upon 

Selma . . . 449, 450, 454 

recommended for promotion . 541 
Worth, Pvt. Jehoida, wounded and 

captured in action . 49, 551, 552 
wounded in action . . .574 

Wright's Battalion, Missouri Cav- 
alry, service with . . 32, 97 
Wright, Corp. Jacob, captured on 

picket-post, and exchanged . 575 



Yallobusha, line of, defended by 
Pemberton .... 



70 



PAGE 

bridges destroyed on Grenada 
raid 133 

Yancey, Pvt. John W., killed in 

action ....'. 556 

Yazoo City occupied by the cavalry, 

Grenada raid . . . .128 

Yeoman, Lieut. Joseph A. O., bril- 
liant attempt to capture Davis, 

526, 527 

Yorke, Lieut. - Col. P. Jones, 
commands " Quinine Cam- 
paign " . . _ . . .365 

Young, Pvt. Jeremiah, killed in 

action ..... 563 



Zollars, Thomas J., ist 
of F . 



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